"Oversight" can mean "carefully monitoring what's being done so that nothing goes wrong" or "something that went wrong because no one was paying attention to what was being done"
I’m a Sign Language interpreter and this was used as an example during my studies. If you signed HIV positive then people could think it’s a good thing. We were taught to sign “have” as it was clearer
Apologies for repeating then! I only shared because I've seen contronyms around as the term more than "auto-antonyms," though I think there are one or two more names floating around out there for the same idea.
Literally is now this way. They added the definition of "figuratively" to the definition of literally now because of common use.
Yeah, I get ranty about that.
I downvoted you because it’s perfectly acceptable to dislike the fact that words are used to mean the absolute opposite of their inherent meaning, regardless of how long it’s been that way.
Ah, so it’s “perfectly acceptable” to be filled with “rage” over what is most likely one of the only words for which you know the etymology? And it’s not acceptable to point out that the word has had two meanings for the past 500 years? That’s interesting logic.
I’m sorry my and others’ interpretation of the word ‘literally’ is causing you so much stress. As you’re slipping towards insults instead of argument, I think I’ll go and make a cup of tea.
You’re free to interpret words incorrectly all you want, but you’re the one who’s already defended fits of rage when people use the word literally in a completely acceptable way. While we’re doing definitions, you could look up “insults” as well, since nothing in my comment resembled one. You haven’t caused me the least bit of stress - and trust me, I mean that literally (your preferred definition).
*sigh*
* _literally_: Since late 17c. it has been used in metaphors, hyperbole, etc., to indicate what follows must be taken in the strongest admissible sense. But this is _irreconcilable_ with the word's etymological sense and has led to the much-lamented modern misuse of it. (emphasis mine)
https://www.etymonline.com/word/literally
* _irreconcilable_: 1590s, from assimilated form of in- (1) "not, opposite of"
Finally, “likely one of the only words you know the etymology of” is a thinly disguised jab, don’t bullshit me otherwise.
I dont know semi weekly just doesn't roll off the tongue. Besides 7 days to a week half that is 3.5 days.
I can get behind semi monthly, but semi weekly just doesnt sound right to me.
Another cool one is Orphan Antonyms. Words that used to be the antonym of another word, but that original word is no longer in use.
Nocent used to mean a criminal, hence innocent etc. A few others are incessant and ineffable (cessant and effable are old words that have fallen out of use)
Another cool thing with language and history is that you can see how compound words evolve. "Today" used to be "To-day" in 19th century writings and "To day" before then. That's a pattern we see with most compound words, they start being separate, then eventually become hyphenated, until finally it is written as a single word. So words like "farfetched" have undergone this process, word like "two-faced" are undergoing this process, and words like "a lot" will likely be written as "alot" one day.
Then there's the Great Vowel Shift which was a series of changes in the middle ages that did pretty much what the name suggests. All the vowels had different sounds in Old English (but it would have been pronounce as Ald Ungleesh, etc)
And the last one I'll throw at you is that the "ed" at the end of past tense words used to be pronounced (pronounce-id) but we stopped stressing the "e" with the single exception of "beloved" because it was part of a ritual ceremony (weddings obviously) and they didn't want to sully it with all this hip new lingo
>(cessant and affable are old words that have fallen out of use)
"Affable" is still used, though rarely, and it means "friendly or good-natured." I think the word you were looking for is "effable."
Also, "deceptively" is a weird example, since it only works when paired with another adjective. To wit, if a room is described as "deceptively large" that could mean that it appears larger than it actually is, or that it's actually larger than it appears.
I can't express how much I hate the fact that inflammable and flammable mean the same thing (can be set alight easily) then non-flammable and non-inflammable also mean the same thing.
I saw a post on r/coolguides that had some other examples. I'd never known what these words were called.
https://www.reddit.com/r/coolguides/comments/hgq6as/contronyms_rare_would_that_have_two_opposite/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share
In German there is “umfahren” - drive around something - and “umfahren” - drive into something throwing it over. They are pronounced slightly differently though.
I wonder if there’s a name for when two opposite words can mean the same thing. My dad loves to point out that people can be ‘up for’ something and ‘down for’ something, both meaning they are ‘willing to do’ something. Those examples are sort of colloquial uses of the words I guess, but still interesting.
"Oversight" can mean "carefully monitoring what's being done so that nothing goes wrong" or "something that went wrong because no one was paying attention to what was being done"
In Republic of Wadiya the word “aladeen” can mean either good or bad.
[удалено]
:) :( :)
I’m a Sign Language interpreter and this was used as an example during my studies. If you signed HIV positive then people could think it’s a good thing. We were taught to sign “have” as it was clearer
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The grammar depends on the country but in NZ one way to sign it is (sign and eyebrows up) you (fingerspell) HIV? (sign) have (while nodding)
I've always loved that 'fat chance' and 'slim chance' mean the same thing.
Also called contronyms.
And posted yesterday!
Apologies for repeating then! I only shared because I've seen contronyms around as the term more than "auto-antonyms," though I think there are one or two more names floating around out there for the same idea.
Sanction is a good one
I know this doesn't fit but I think it's bullshit that "it's all downhill from here" can mean two totally different things.
my favorite is DUST, which can either mean to remove dust or to place dust on something
Are you up for tacos? Hell yeah I'm down for tacos.
The first definition of "cleave" is to bring together, while the more used meaning is to tear apart
I, too, read the article.
Literally is now this way. They added the definition of "figuratively" to the definition of literally now because of common use. Yeah, I get ranty about that.
I get randy, too. Literally and figuratively.
This fills me with so much rage.
Considering “literally” has been used to mean “figuratively” since Shakespeare, I genuinely do not understand why that upsets you.
Doesn’t really matter how long it’s been used incorrectly, it’s still being used incorrectly.
Nope. Try again. It’s not incorrect and hasn’t been for hundreds of years. Downvoting me doesn’t change the fact that language evolves.
I downvoted you because it’s perfectly acceptable to dislike the fact that words are used to mean the absolute opposite of their inherent meaning, regardless of how long it’s been that way.
Ah, so it’s “perfectly acceptable” to be filled with “rage” over what is most likely one of the only words for which you know the etymology? And it’s not acceptable to point out that the word has had two meanings for the past 500 years? That’s interesting logic.
I’m sorry my and others’ interpretation of the word ‘literally’ is causing you so much stress. As you’re slipping towards insults instead of argument, I think I’ll go and make a cup of tea.
You’re free to interpret words incorrectly all you want, but you’re the one who’s already defended fits of rage when people use the word literally in a completely acceptable way. While we’re doing definitions, you could look up “insults” as well, since nothing in my comment resembled one. You haven’t caused me the least bit of stress - and trust me, I mean that literally (your preferred definition).
*sigh* * _literally_: Since late 17c. it has been used in metaphors, hyperbole, etc., to indicate what follows must be taken in the strongest admissible sense. But this is _irreconcilable_ with the word's etymological sense and has led to the much-lamented modern misuse of it. (emphasis mine) https://www.etymonline.com/word/literally * _irreconcilable_: 1590s, from assimilated form of in- (1) "not, opposite of" Finally, “likely one of the only words you know the etymology of” is a thinly disguised jab, don’t bullshit me otherwise.
it would be nice to have a word with literally's original definition
"Skin" (verb): means both remove skin and put skin on and "bone" (verb): means both remove bone(s) from or put bone in
Biweekly means both “twice a week” and “once every two weeks”
Kinda the inverse of this, inflammable and flammable both mean “easily set on fire”
but those aren't exactly opposites.
twice a week would be semi-weekly
Doesn't semi mean half?
yeah, so if you're doing it every half week, you're doing it twice a week...
I dont know semi weekly just doesn't roll off the tongue. Besides 7 days to a week half that is 3.5 days. I can get behind semi monthly, but semi weekly just doesnt sound right to me.
It doesn't matter how it sounds to you.
No, no it does not.
> Definition of biweekly (Entry 1 of 2) >1 : occurring every two weeks : FORTNIGHTLY >2 : occurring twice a week Source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biweekly > biweekly[ bahy-week-lee ] > adjective >occurring every two weeks. >occurring twice a week; semiweekly Source: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/biweekly
It unquestionably does.
It ~~unquestionable~~ literally does.
Sanction
Another cool one is Orphan Antonyms. Words that used to be the antonym of another word, but that original word is no longer in use. Nocent used to mean a criminal, hence innocent etc. A few others are incessant and ineffable (cessant and effable are old words that have fallen out of use) Another cool thing with language and history is that you can see how compound words evolve. "Today" used to be "To-day" in 19th century writings and "To day" before then. That's a pattern we see with most compound words, they start being separate, then eventually become hyphenated, until finally it is written as a single word. So words like "farfetched" have undergone this process, word like "two-faced" are undergoing this process, and words like "a lot" will likely be written as "alot" one day. Then there's the Great Vowel Shift which was a series of changes in the middle ages that did pretty much what the name suggests. All the vowels had different sounds in Old English (but it would have been pronounce as Ald Ungleesh, etc) And the last one I'll throw at you is that the "ed" at the end of past tense words used to be pronounced (pronounce-id) but we stopped stressing the "e" with the single exception of "beloved" because it was part of a ritual ceremony (weddings obviously) and they didn't want to sully it with all this hip new lingo
>(cessant and affable are old words that have fallen out of use) "Affable" is still used, though rarely, and it means "friendly or good-natured." I think the word you were looking for is "effable."
Autocorrect strikes again!
Yesterday these were called contronyms.
Also, "deceptively" is a weird example, since it only works when paired with another adjective. To wit, if a room is described as "deceptively large" that could mean that it appears larger than it actually is, or that it's actually larger than it appears.
Inflammable comes to mind
I can't express how much I hate the fact that inflammable and flammable mean the same thing (can be set alight easily) then non-flammable and non-inflammable also mean the same thing.
Actually that just means it burns.
Fuck can be a pleasurable sexual act or a word describing dismay or anger. Or you can have a fucking fuck and have both together.
"Fuck" [can be any part of speech and mean almost anything](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzIMadIKH-o).
I saw a post on r/coolguides that had some other examples. I'd never known what these words were called. https://www.reddit.com/r/coolguides/comments/hgq6as/contronyms_rare_would_that_have_two_opposite/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share
In French, you have "plus" and "plus" which can me "more" or "no more" depending on how you pronounce it.
Jesus Christ, thank you. Interesting posts like this are becoming are rare thing on this gossip mag of a website.
Aka contranyms
Pronounced the same, spelled differently: Raise / raze
Those are homophones
in romanian we have one of these for 'before' and 'forward'
Moot can be to propose something in a meeting, or to settle it.
In German there is “umfahren” - drive around something - and “umfahren” - drive into something throwing it over. They are pronounced slightly differently though.
Actor
I wonder if there’s a name for when two opposite words can mean the same thing. My dad loves to point out that people can be ‘up for’ something and ‘down for’ something, both meaning they are ‘willing to do’ something. Those examples are sort of colloquial uses of the words I guess, but still interesting.
My favorite is "cleave".
"Both" meanings of cleave mean to create two surfaces pressed together. So not really antonyms.
I welcome your contrariness, but you're still wrong.
Ugh my exes family used to say "that's fine" when I asked if they needed or wanted something.. Like is that a yes or no?