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clipian came to be replaced by Middle English callen (New English call); Old English niman was ousted by Middle English taken (New English take). Replacements could also occur in the sphere of content. The word was retained but its meaning was changed or was replaced by a new meaning. Thus Old English drēām meant "joy" but acquired an entirely different meaning, formerly rendered by Old English swefn. The one-to-one replacement did not increase the number of words in the vocabulary. Most replacements, however, belonged to the "split"-type: one item was replaced by two or more, or one meaning differentiated into several meanings. These changes should be classified as additions to the vocabulary.
Additions embrace a large number of vocabulary changes. The sum total of this type of change far offsets the process of obsolescence and decay. Among additions we can find pure innovations, they are entirely new words which did not take the place of any other items but were created to name new things, new ideas and new qualities: Middle English
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