The Database of Semantic Shifts in the languages of the world

ID	Meaning 1	Direction	Meaning 2

Comment

This semantic shift is based on the physiological reaction of opening one's eyes wide when surprised (or scared)

ACCEPTED Realization 1
type		Polysemy
language		Hill Mari
lexeme		сӹнзӓ цӓркӓ гань
meaning 1	eyes wide (lit. like a cup)
direction	→
meaning 2	to be very surprised
reference		Savatkova 2008
comment		The direction is evident from the non-compositionality of the second meaning

ACCEPTED Realization 2
type		Polysemy
language		Japanese
lexeme		me wo miharu (目を見張る)
meaning 1	to open one's eyes wide	眦が裂けるほど目を見張る He opens his eyes so widely they tear at the corners
direction	→
meaning 2	to be amazed	その新米のセールスマンが、トップの販売実績をあげたやり方指導員の目を見はらせた The manner in which the new salesman made top sales level was an eye-opener to his supervisor
reference		Jisho
comment		The direction is evident because of the non-compositionality of the second meaning

ACCEPTED Realization 3
type		Polysemy
language		Komi
lexeme		баргысьны
meaning 1	to stare
direction	→
meaning 2	to be very surprised
reference		Beznosikova et al. 2000
comment		Dialectal form

ACCEPTED Realization 4
type		Polysemy
language		Meadow Mari
lexeme		шинчам караш
meaning 1	to open one's eyes wide	Мотри, Бертан ӱмбакыже шинчатым пешыжак ит каркале, саҥгашкет пуля логал кертеш Do not gaze in the direction of Berta, a bullet might hit you in the forehead
direction	→
meaning 2	to be surprised	Кукушкин адак казна оксам шотлен онча да шинчам карен шинчеш – окса адак ок сите Khukhushkin counts the state money and opens his eyes wide, there is not enough money again
reference		Mari-Russian idiomatic dictionary
comment		The direction of the shift is evident form the non-compositionality of the second meaning