Contronyms

[Renauda]

There’s a certain irony in all that.

Hadn’t ever thought about either until you posted this.

[jon-nyc]

I had only thought about this with the word apology.

There’s another similar, which has opposing meanings as a verb or an adjective/noun: moot

To moot an idea is to bring it into consideration.

If a topic is made moot, it is made irrelevant, taken out of consideration.

[Mik]

English is a difficult language.

[Aqua Letifer]

Did you screen these for accuracy? Don't overlook some of the others.

Love contronyms.

[Renauda]

@Aqua-Letifer

[Axtremus]

Like Window’s “Start” button, you click it to shutdown the computer.

[Aqua Letifer]

@Axtremus said in Contronyms:

Like Window’s “Start” button, you click it to shutdown the computer.

Swing and a miss.

[Catseye3]

@jon-nyc said in Contronyms:

To moot an idea is to bring it into consideration.

Really? I haven't heard of that before.

I can think of a phrase that qualifies: I'm sure. Much of the time, when somebody says I'm sure, they're saying they're not sure. As in, "I'm sure it'll be fine," which is saying you're in fact not sure.

Often when they really mean they're sure, they'll say I'm sure of it.

[LuFins Dad]

The proctor at my SAT told us that it was his job to overlook all of the students and make sure that no cheating occurred…

[Renauda]

Origin of the word moot and its definitions go back to Anglo-Saxon England:

https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803124243390

[George K]

@Renauda

In Dennis Taylor's "We Are Bob" series of sci-fi books, the various iterations of "Bob" hold virtual meetings to discuss plans, problems, etc.

They are called "moots."

“It depends on the power of the computer that’s hosting it, Henry. I’ve got a huge system here in Epsilon Eridani that’s specifically designed for hosting. I’ve hosted baseball games, and Bob-moots with dozens of Bobs at a time.” I glanced at each of them in turn. “You guys both have some catching up to do. Linus, I’ve started building a latest-generation vessel for each of you. Henry, it’s up to you what you want to do. I understand you have some sensitivities that you’re dealing with. There’s no hurry. We have, literally, all the time in the universe.”

[jon-nyc]

@Catseye3 it’s a British usage. It shows up in the magazine The Economist all the time.

[Horace]

@Renauda said in Contronyms:

Origin of the word moot and its definitions go back to Anglo-Saxon England:

https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803124243390

I suppose Tolkien was aware of that usage when he coined “entmoot”.

[taiwan_girl]

@Mik said in Contronyms:

English is a difficult language.

This!!

What would be an sentence example of #5 - dust: to add fine particles?

[LuFins Dad]

@taiwan_girl said in Contronyms:

@Mik said in Contronyms:

English is a difficult language.

This!!

What would be an sentence example of #5 - dust: to add fine particles?

TG, please dust the donuts with powdered sugar.

[Renauda]

@taiwan_girl

Or where I live, in winter people will say “we had a dusting of snow over night”.