Words that are their own antonym 1

[tgreer]

Every so often I stumble across a word that has definitions that are close to being opposites. Here are two examples. Can you find others?

cleave: to stick together; to cut apart
sanction: to allow/endorse/permit; to discipline/penalize



Thomas D. Greer

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[tgreer]

sucker: to sucker, to fool, to mislead, to take advantage of
succor: to aid, to comfort, to render assistance





Thomas D. Greer

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[tgreer]

I've started too many threads! The previous belongs in "homophonic antonyms".

Thomas D. Greer

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[Stella740pl]

SantaMufasa,

Even though I am coming late into this discussion,

"If a dog is able to be impregnated, then what more economical predicate adjective could you suggest than, "If a dog is able to be impregnated, then what more economical predicate adjective could you suggest than, "The dog is impregnable"?"

"The dog is fertile", possibly?

 

[SantaMufasa]

Good suggestion, Stella, but can you think of a case where a dog is fertile, yet not impregnable?...I can think of two cases.

Mufasa
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[Stella740pl]

Well, I agree with you. I can think of (at least) two cases, too. But moreover, the meaning of "Capable of being impregnated" does exist in the dictionary.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=impregnable

 

[SantaMufasa]

Thanks, Stella, for locating a dictionary confirmation of that definition.

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
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Providing low-cost remote Database Admin services]
Click here to join Utah Oracle Users Group on Tek-Tips if you use Oracle in Utah USA.