is there an english word that has a meaning and its opposite?
2006-10-12 10:34:07 · 6 answers · asked by bita 595 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
Ya
exp Ya, will go to the fair. (being sarcastic)
Ya the fair will be fun. (being truthfull)
Dude
exp Dude you ate the last taco. (means no)
Dude, you rock. (means yes)
Sh*t
exp Sh*t thats just stupid (means no)
Sh*t lets go man. (means yes)
Its all about how you say something. Alot of words can mean more than one thing.
2006-10-12 10:47:18 · answer #1 · answered by knight35966 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
There are some like that; one famous example was "inflammable" which was used on various safety signs, but caused such befuddlement the it was outlawed by regulation .
I think they are called "contranyms".
2006-10-12 17:48:34 · answer #2 · answered by fata minerva 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sanction:
The university sanctions the use of rubrics. (condones)
The government sanctions nuclear weapons development. (prohibits)
cleave:
The fearful little girl cleaves to her mother. (sticks to)
The lumberjack cleaves each log in two. (pulls apart)
2006-10-12 20:57:02 · answer #3 · answered by X 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
What? that would almost defy the purpose of the word in itself. Honestly, I dont think so, and if I'm wrong then, well I'm just baffled.
2006-10-12 17:41:57 · answer #4 · answered by Bobby B 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
cleave: it means "to stick together" and "to split"
2006-10-12 17:57:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Oxymoron. :-/
2006-10-12 17:45:05 · answer #6 · answered by Butterscotch 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋