Talk:Auto-antonym
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Note that the most popular search result on Google for contronyms [1] lists words that are only marginally contronyms and shouldn't be included in this list. It will be better to keep this list pure.
Anyone else think the list of contronyms should go to wictionary instead of wikipedia? --65.27.70.55 22:08, 20 Dec 2004 (UTC)
Since when can inflammable mean not flammable? KorbenDirewolf 07:48, 9 Feb 2005 (UTC)
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[edit] Another contranym
I think "meek" is also a contranym.
Merriam-Webster defines it as: 1 : enduring injury with patience and without resentment 2 : deficient in spirit and courage
I would say that enduring injury with patience and without resentment takes enormous courage and spirit. This may be POV but I think it is still worth mentioning. What do you folks think?
--Cfwschmidt 01:56, 4 November 2005 (UTC)
Although Merriam-Webster is a single reliable source, there are many uses for the word "meek". Essentially, meek means to be mild; enduring insult or injury without objection; seeming to accept wrongs, poor treatment or bad luck without complaint.
The contrast between "courage", and "meek" changes within culture and time. An example would be Ghandi in the 1940's in India. Another could be straight out of fiction with Superman and Clark Kent; they really are one, but Clark Kent SEEMS to lack courage, so that the culture he exists in will not suppose he is the superhero associated with courageous action. Seeming doesn't make it so. Meek need not be a deficiency in either spirit or courage, but just part of the way courage (taking action against wrong while being afraid) manifests.
I'm looking for a verification that the word blue blongs on this page.
1. adj. Strict moral code. (eg: Blue Laws)
2. adj. Pornography, foul language, etc. (ie: blue films, blue joke)
note: infalmmable should be removed or edited to explain why it's is not an acronym of itself. (See Usage Note)
Interesting what we can discover by putting our minds together. The suggestions above are impressive and tantalisingly close (at least) to qualifying as contronyms. Here is another I just thought of: oversight, as in 1) He has the oversight for the family taxes (=responsibility for). 2) He neglected to do the taxes. It was an oversight (=failed in responsibility, due to losing from view). Comments?
--Philopedia 13:31, 7 December 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Trivial?
What about trivial? It can either be dismissable, unimportant, but in a more formal or mathematical context it can be essential to, for instance, a recursive function's definition... Wouter Lievens
Hi Wouters, I studied mathematics, but just at the moment, I can't place your reference for a mathematical use of trival. How about an example? Thanks --Philopedia 13:33, 7 December 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Contronym vs. Auto-Antonym
I propose that the name of this entry be changed to "Contronym" in order to reflect the most commonly used spelling of this language game.
The word contronym was coined in 1962 by Jack Herring for a language game. Contronyms were the subject of an article by Richard Lederer in Word Ways in February 1978. David Morice coined the word pseudo-contronym in 1987 for a similar language game.
- contronym — a word which can be used in two contradictory senses: a language game. Compare antagonym, autantonym, heteronym, and homonym. See also pseudo-contronym. [Herring; Lederer/1]
- pseudo-contronym — a word which, when modified, can be used in two contradictory senses (e.g., unit = one thing; but un-it = not a thing): a language game — coined by David Morice. See also contronym. [Morice]
References
- Herring, Jack. Word Study (February 1962).
- Lederer/1 = Lederer, Richard. "Curious Contronyms." Word Ways, 11 (February 1978): 27-28.
- Morice, David. "Kickshaws." Word Ways, 20 (November 1987): 243.
The word contronym is occasionally (and incorrectly) spelled "contranym"; the more historically correct spelling is contronym. The word derives from the Latin contr(a), "against, contrary, in opposition" + -onym; the suffix (nearly) always supersedes the root, so the "a" in contra is dropped to form contronym.
PlaysInPeoria 04:04, 19 January 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Auto-Antonym vs. Autantonym
The original spelling of "auto-antonym" (with or without the hypen) was autantonym. It was coined (or perhaps simply reported) by Joseph T. Shipley in 1960.
The original spelling, in which the "o" in auto- was properly dropped, was used in the Dictionary of Language Games, Puzzles, and Amusements in 1986.
- autantonym — word having two opposite meanings (as a fast horse, and a fast color). Cf. contronym, heteronym, and homonym. [Eiss:39; Shipley:74]
References
- Eiss, Harry Edwin. Dictionary of Language Games, Puzzles, and Amusements. New York: Greenwood Press, 1986.
- Shipley, Joseph T. Playing with Words. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1960, p. 74.
PlaysInPeoria 04:06, 19 January 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Enantionymy? Antilogy?
What, pray tell, is "antilogy," or, for that matter, "enantionymy"?
The following sentence appears in the article: "This phenomenon is also called 'enantionymy' or 'antilogy.'" With all due respect, if this sentence adds any value to the article, which is questionable, it certainly demands a footnote.
A quick Google search revealed that the terms apparently were coined by Laurence Horn, writing in LINGUIST List. According to LINGUIST List 14.553, Mon Feb 24 2003, Sum: Contrasting senses for 'leave' (edited by Steve Moran), "He [Horn] now prefer to call this phenomenon as 'enantionymy' which he earlier termed as 'antilogy.'"
Let's stick with contronym or perhaps autantonym!
PlaysInPeoria 04:37, 19 January 2007 (UTC)
