Words

The BC did a post that had a quote from Humpty Dumpty.  It brought to mind some interesting points of view.  What do words mean?  Do they mean whatever the person using them means?  Or, do they actually mean what the vast majority of people (and a dictionary) would say they mean?

"When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.’

’The question is,’ said Alice, ‘whether you can make words mean so many different things.’

’The question is,’ said Humpty Dumpty, ‘which is to be master — that’s all."

— Lewis Carroll (Through The Looking Glass

Which is to be master, indeed.