[Ads-l] to redefine

[Jonathan Lighter]

Common for twenty-five years, at least. Surprisingly absent from OED:

"to alter the character, nature, or understanding of."

CNN reports that Prince "redefined" both "sex" and "music."

Bonus: CNN also comments awkwardly that besides that, Prince was known "for
his stylishness and funk."

Extra: The sole relevant OED def. ("Music that is funky") is, I believe,
too narrow, esp. since it is meant to cover exx. like "1959...You can even
try to put too much 'funk' in a thing."

Let me suggest that better def. might be "a pleasingly coarse, earthy, or
(in music) bluesy quality."

JL

-- 
"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."

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