Re: Why does the meaning (and spelling) of words change?

There's nothing especially archaic about these in British English - it's the
perfectly standard way of spelling these, and many other,
words. For one thing, it allows for greater understanding in the written
tongue. To a brit "program" is a perfectly good word - but
is only used in the context of "set of instructions for a computer". This
contrasts with the usual "programme" which is used in all
other contexts. And there's no possibility of confusing "cheque" with
"check" since the former relates only to the slip of paper that
takes the place of cash.
Mike
>
> Spelling changes are interesting too.  I was reading a
> document penned in the 1600's that included the phrase
> "a publique outcrie in the towne".  It is interesting
> that the use of "que" for "c" or "ck" and the
> appending of the superfluous "e" still survives in
> such archaic spellings as "cheque", and "programme"
> still current in a few places.
>
> --gary

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