Why isn't mantle the opposite of dismantle? Can you think of any other such examples?

Answer 1

The reason, if you are truly interested (and its OK if you're just joking) is that In its ORIGINAL meaning of "take the cloak off", the opposite of "dismantle" was simply "mantle" (which is still around), meaning "cover with a cloak" (and from there to 'hide').

But, of course, words sometimes take specialized uses. In this case the metaphorical use of "dismantle" took over.... leaving the form on its own (though there ARE opposites, like "assemble" or "build up, rebuild")

See more on the history of this word -
http://word-detective.com/0706A.html

A couple of other pairs of terms that USED to be simple opposites (like "dismantle" and "mantle"), until the sense of one of the forms changed or became obsolete -- "disabuse" is the opposite of an obsolete sense of 'abuse' (in the sense of 'deceive'); 'misgivings' is based on an archaic sense of 'givings' as 'suggestions'.


More on "dis" --

Beware of the assumption that the prefix "dis" ALWAYS turns a positive word into a negative. In fact, in some cases it serves instead as an intensifier.

That is what happened with "disgruntled". "Gruntled" came first, with the meaning of 'angry, complaining' (related to the word "grunt"), Adding the "dis-" made it stronger. (BTW, the -le prefix here refers to something done repeatedly, and "gruntle" is close in meaning to "grumble".) The "dis" of "disembowel" functions the same way -- it's an intensification (now there's a pleasant thought?!) or "embowel".
http://www.word-detective.com/081203.html
http://www.webster.com/dictionary/disgruntle

Jebbie is mistaken about "ruthless(ness)". There IS an opposite. "Ruth" means "pity, compassion", and just as "ruthlessness" means "lacking in ruth/compassion", "ruthful", though rare, is real.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ruth
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ruthful

In response to some other words commonly thought to have only negative forms --

Though we may use "uncouth" more, "couth" is a perfectly fine word.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/couth

Also real are "clement" (meaning 'inclined to be merciful, forgiving') and "kempt".
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/clement
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/kempt

Now these particular forms may not be in OUR everyday vocabulary, but they are legitimate and NOT obsolete. So you certainly cannot say they "exist only in the negative"

As for "overwhelmed". Actually, "underwhelmed" is a recent creation, a humorous play on this form. But note that the root form is "whelmed" -- which has the same basic meaning as "overwhelmed". The prefix here, like the "dis" in "disgruntled" does not negate, it intensifies, suggesting that one is 'very much' or 'completely' "whelmed". . Compare the intensifying use of "over-:" in "overdone"...

(In light of this, if we wanted an opposite, we would expect "un-whelmed" or perhaps "non-whelmed".)

Compare "overwrought"... Again, "over" is an intensifier. The word means, originally "very much wrought (= 'agitated')", but the form "wrought" has fallen out of use (though note that "wrought" is a form of "work" and we DO continue the same idea in the expression "(very) worked up")

On "inert" -- the root for was originally "art" and the word meant "not artful, not skillful'. The vowel changed when the prefix was added, which happens sometimes. (Compare "inept"... in which the negative "in" was added to an original "apt", which is still a word.)

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For some fun, check out the link below. It contains about 65 expressions that are humorously reversed with things we would NEVER say (or can't). On a close reading, you'll find that MOST of the words exist... they just aren't used quite that way, or the EXPRESSIONS they are used in don't work that way. But it's all great fun!

"How I Met My Wife" Jack Winter, in the New Yorker, July 25, 1994.
http://beebo.org/smackerels/how-i-met-my-wife.html

Answer 2

English does not always follow logical rules. Mantle can refer to the core in our earth so it cannot be used as the opposite of dismantle. There are other examples like ert not being the opposite of inert etc. The beauty of the English language is that it has different words to describe different things or emotions instead of just adding or removing a prefix or suffix which would make the word dull!!!

Answer 3

Dismantled Meaning

Answer 4

Why does the_next_level_up find it necessary to be abusive?
This is Words and Wordplay - get that bit - PLAY.

Lighten up!

"Gruntle" isn't the opposite of disgruntle, and "may" isn't the opposite of dismay, but I'm certainly dismayed at the_next_level_up's attitude.

Of course we know it depends on context, of course we know that not all words starting with "dis" have the same origins as those words forming their opposites by adding that prefix.

It's just a fun thing to do.

Lighten up!

Answer 5

How come congress isn't the opposite of progress. Or is it? Hummm...

Answer 6

why isnt the opposite of display ... play? stoopid


its all about the context of the word

Answer 7

A person can be overwhelmed and underwhelmed but can't just be whelmed.

Answer 8

Assemble for sure.

Answer 9

another example would be.... Ruthlessness... It's opposite is not "ruthness"