Contranyms

How many contranyms in the english language?
Please list a few other than;
Cleave
Sanction
Execute

Thank You:


26 July 03/1820 cst

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by Glen

How many contranyms in the english language?

I don't know. Probably not many.

Originally Posted by Glen

Please list a few other than;
Cleave
Sanction
Execute

I don't know any other than those.

http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary/contranym.html

[Tdol]

Does 'quite' qualify?

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by tdol

Does 'quite' qualify?

Not quite. :wink: (It might be close.)

:wink:

[Tdol]

I'll keep thinking.

[Tdol]

Originally Posted by Glen

How many contranyms in the english language?
Please list a few other than;
Cleave
Sanction
Execute

Thank You:


26 July 03/1820 cst

'Yield' might well be one.

[RonBee]

Contranym(s)
http://rec-puzzles.org/new/sol.pl/la...nyms/contranym
(I wholly disagree with the first part of the list. A contranym is one word, not two different words.)

What is the proper term for a word that has two opposing meanings?
http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexper...ords/contranym
(I include that one because of all the other interesting stuff.)

CONTRANYMS
http://ccins.camosun.bc.ca/~peterm/v...ontranyms.html
(A list of contranyms and an interesting explanation of the word.)

Finally, if you type in contranym at onelook.com you get this site: http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary/contranym.html

Forums page:
http://www.usingenglish.com/english_forum.html

I put anxious in this category, since it is used to mean the same as its opposite, eager.

:)

[Casiopea]

Did Lederer coin the term contranym?

I think opposing is better than opposite, do you?

In his 1989 book _Crazy English_, Richard Lederer calls such words contranyms and lists more than 35, although some are phrases instead of words. These can be divided into homographs (same spelling) and homophones (same pronunciation). A partial list of homographs: aught = all, nothing bill = invoice, money cleave = to separate, to join clip = cut apart, fasten together comprise = contain, compose custom = usual, special dust = to remove, add fine particles fast = rapid, unmoving literally = actually, figuratively model = archetype, copy moot = debatable, academic note = promise to pay, money oversight = care, error peep = look quietly, beep peer = noble, person of equal rank put = lay, throw puzzle = pose problem, solve problem quantum = very small, very large (quantum leap) ravel = entangle, disentangle resign = to quit, to sign up again sanction = to approve of, to punish sanguine = murderous, optimistic scan = to examine closely, to glance at quickly set = fix, flow skin = to cover with, remove outer covering speak = express verbally, express nonverbally stipulate = request explicitly, agree to strike = miss (baseball), hit table = propose [British], set aside temper = calmness, passion trim = cut things off, put things on A very short list of homophones: aural, oral = heard, spoken fiance, fiancee = female betrothed, male betrothed raise, raze = erect, tear down A pair of French words which can be very confusing: La symetrie (symmetry) and L'asymetrie (asymmetry). Latin: immo = yes, no Possibilities: draw (curtains, open or close) (money, withdraw, accumulate interest) eke

http://www.rec-puzzles.org/sol.pl/la...nyms/contranym

[Tdol]

He missed out meteoric rise, unless my eyesight's not what it was.

[Tdol]

Originally Posted by Glen

How many contranyms in the english language?
Please list a few other than;
Cleave
Sanction
Execute

Thank You:


26 July 03/1820 cst

Let is another- in the British passport, it demands that the bearer be allowed to travel without 'let or hindrance', or at least it used to.