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Saturday, June 8, 2013

Autoantonyms

Autoantonyms

An autoantonym is a word which has two meanings which are opposites of each other.
It may have several other meanings - only the two contradictory meanings are significant and give an autoantonym its curious "Humpty-Dumpty" quality.
The word CLEAVE - meaning either 'to split asunder' or 'to join together' - is a perfect example of an autoantonym.
Other autoantonymous words are: 
CHUFFED pleased, delighted x displeased, disgruntled
DUST remove dust x sprinkle with dust
INFLAMMABLE flammable x not flammable
INHABITABLE habitable x not habitable
INSCIENT ignorant x having secret or inward knowledge
LEFT remaining x gone away
LET to permit x to hinder, to prevent
OVERLOOK ignore inspect
PINK a light red color x a greenish-yellow pigment
PRESENTLY now x later
QUITE completely, absolutely x to a partial extent, somewhat
ROCK a sure foundation, anything immovable x a swaying or tilting movement
SANCTION authorization, aid or encouragement x coercive measure intended to discourage
SCREEN to conceal from view x to display ( a film etc.)
TRIP to move lightly and nimbly x to stumble
VAPULATE to flog x to be flogged

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