tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post8463937571447516644..comments2024-03-14T10:31:26.918+00:00Comments on DCblog: On antinymsDChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10192779827863835310noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-19122656372346957912010-09-24T07:45:45.823+00:002010-09-24T07:45:45.823+00:00My original post wasn't about contranyms, wher...My original post wasn't about contranyms, where the opposite meanings are established usage.DChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10192779827863835310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-89827883206541825642010-09-24T02:15:03.834+00:002010-09-24T02:15:03.834+00:00So many of your examples just don't do justice...So many of your examples just don't do justice to the notion of a word meaning itself and it's exact opposite. Which, by definition, is called a contronym (var. contranym), or a suitable synonym would be autoantonym, both excellent words to describe words that have two definitions that are diametrically opposed. Some examples: fast (to move quickly, or, to stay put), overlook (to watch closely, or, to not notice), and my favorite...sanction (to allow, or, to prevent).SamIamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-74211200208734941392010-09-15T20:02:08.570+00:002010-09-15T20:02:08.570+00:00The one I notice most often today is "sick&qu...The one I notice most often today is "sick". Where I take this to mean perverted or revolting (if not "unwell") the generation below me takes this as a positive.<br /><br />I'm quite offended, until I remember that we said "wicked" to mean brilliant, and our parents thought this odd.lpf20noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-36879722853050023122010-09-09T23:23:32.480+00:002010-09-09T23:23:32.480+00:00Certainly the 60s-70s slang use of "bad"...Certainly the 60s-70s slang use of "bad" to mean good would qualify: "Wow, did you see that dunk? It was bad!"UBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10347161615861603940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-51538195378251261052010-09-03T12:53:12.273+00:002010-09-03T12:53:12.273+00:00"Literally" now means "metaphorical..."Literally" now means "metaphorically". Pedants complain about this one, but I can't remember the last time I heard "literally" being used to mean something which is absolutely true in the sense of the core meanings of the actual words used.Paulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-74917187449195572582010-08-06T07:59:57.527+00:002010-08-06T07:59:57.527+00:00I was thinking of the word 'original' as u...I was thinking of the word 'original' as used by some academics. For instance, a paper might be described as 'strikingly original' as a sign of approval; alternatively, it could be rejected or penalised for being 'too original' if it doesn't follow established conventions or use the literature effectively. Book reviews are also good hunting ground for such antinyms (e.g. 'an interesting contribution', 'a book that is bound to receive a lot of scholarly attention')Achilleas K.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-72030504344896717212010-08-03T14:02:08.018+00:002010-08-03T14:02:08.018+00:00I've noticed that the phrase "show-stoppe...I've noticed that the phrase "show-stopper" seems to have almost reversed its meaning. I used to know it as meaning something very good (a song in a musical that caused such prolonged applause that the actors had to wait before they could continue the show). Recently I've heard people use it to mean something very bad, that stops some intended thing from happening (akin to deal-breaker).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16576996334261512970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-54422231888876967622010-08-01T11:08:59.147+00:002010-08-01T11:08:59.147+00:00Here in Australia, we recently had a so-called &qu...Here in Australia, we recently had a so-called "debate" shown on TV between the two main candidates of the upcoming federal election. Sadly for the Australian people, it was the complete opposite of a debate - they didn't talk to each other directly, or even respond to each other's arguments, but merely presented empty rhetoric in response a series of questions from members of the press. It was basically a press conference. But to make us feel democratically warm and fuzzy they called it a debate. I think politicians are probably some of the best sources of antinyms around.Ashmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-19792803359276571052010-07-22T16:49:02.354+00:002010-07-22T16:49:02.354+00:00I wasn't thinking of ironic or sarcastic usage...I wasn't thinking of ironic or sarcastic usage, when I introduced this topic, as intonation, facial expression, and so on are clues which tell us that the meaning is different. It's the sentence that conveys the effect, rather than the individual word.<br /><br />Point taken about Ambrose. I blame jet-lag.DChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10192779827863835310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-32399983327998682832010-07-22T16:30:07.899+00:002010-07-22T16:30:07.899+00:00Don't know whether my teenage daughter's i...Don't know whether my teenage daughter's ironic use of "clearly" to comment on confused situations and explanations counts. I am sure you meant to write Ambrose (not Andrew) Bierce - I am showing a little learning here which he defined as "the kind of ignorance distinguishing the studious".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-78746898757918092012010-07-22T11:25:58.230+00:002010-07-22T11:25:58.230+00:00Telephone or doorstep sales calls from power compa...Telephone or doorstep sales calls from power companies often begin with the words "Don't worry - I'm not selling anything."JLJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03425433116625080923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-72365147906353469062010-07-18T11:11:59.195+00:002010-07-18T11:11:59.195+00:00I don't know of anything - other than the ever...I don't know of anything - other than the everyday notions of telling lies and being perverse (a good example of the latter is Petruchio in 'The Taming of the Shrew', at the point where he is trying to 'tame' Katerina, and uses antonyms to do so).DChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10192779827863835310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-20359625033484069082010-07-17T19:50:33.228+00:002010-07-17T19:50:33.228+00:00When I started reading, I thought you were going t...When I started reading, I thought you were going to write about saying words like hot when one means cold, white when one means black. Does that have a name?světluškahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09192934150576118552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-80479515169516110642010-07-16T10:24:07.182+00:002010-07-16T10:24:07.182+00:00I think the most heavily used antinym is 'free...I think the most heavily used antinym is 'free' - as in "Free on plans over £30 a month" or "You can get the handset free for only £15 on ..."Carlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-23542163101589159112010-07-15T16:30:49.487+00:002010-07-15T16:30:49.487+00:00To Little Suz: My favorite part is "We apprec...To Little Suz: My favorite part is "We appreciate your call."R A Harlessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-85753558402407691042010-07-15T16:28:29.908+00:002010-07-15T16:28:29.908+00:00When people wonder why a simple step wasn't ta...When people wonder why a simple step wasn't taken that would have easily avoided later problems, I like to say "That would make/have made too much sense."R A Harlessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-40778319654514540942010-07-15T11:13:42.782+00:002010-07-15T11:13:42.782+00:00Good one.Good one.DChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10192779827863835310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-5305437161179833902010-07-15T11:11:26.556+00:002010-07-15T11:11:26.556+00:00How about 'shortly' - as in that favourite...How about 'shortly' - as in that favourite automated telephone queue phrase, "One of our advisors will be with you shortly"?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01059371330940672019noreply@blogger.com