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Contronyms or Antagonyms or Auto-antonymss any words have several definitions, like bill. But in some cases those definitions are conflicting. With bill, for example, in one instance it refers to a debt and in another an asset. These are called auto-antonyms. (They are also called “contronyms,” “antagonyms,” “self-antonyms,” “self-contradicting words,” and “janus words.”)
Following are two lists. The first list presents the more interesting auto-antonyms in literal context. The second list has every other antagonym found on pages across the Internet.
act (sincere deed vs. pretend behavior) — The miser’s act of charity was no act this time.
anxious (anticipate eagerly vs. await with dread) — Jill was anxious to get married while Jack was anxious about getting married.
apparent (obvious vs. not clear) — It was apparent to all, Joe was the apparent loser.
assume (actually have vs. hope to have) — At the reading of the will, Zak assumed the role of an assumed heir.
avocation (hobby vs. ones regular job) — Upon retirement, Biff’s avocation became his avocation.
awful (awe-inspiring vs. extremely unpleasant) — For Mona, an awful sunset did not fix an awful day.
bill (something to pay vs. something to pay with) — Bill decided to pay his erotologist’s bill with a hundred dollar bill.
bolt (jump away vs. secure) — That horse will bolt from the stable unless you bolt him to the stable.
bound (moving vs. unable to move) — Efram was bound for prison where he was bound to a post.
buckle(close up vs. fall apart) — When Biff buckled his pants too tight, he groaned and buckled to the floor.
bull (a solemn edict vs. nonsense) — The boss issued a bull that was full of bull.
can (preserve vs. get rid of) — Marge liked to can fruit nearly as much as she liked to can incompetent employees.
citation (commendation vs. court summons) — Policeman Purdy receive a citation for issuing the most citations.
cleave (stick together vs. divide) — Seeing that the cheese balls cleaved together, Orville cleaved them with a knife.
clip (cut apart vs. put together) — Bonnie would clip the coupons from the newspaper faster than Clyde could clip them together.
cool (positive vs. negative) — Mark’s cool website received a cool reception.
custom (ordinary vs. special) — It was custom in these parts to have your boots custom made.
dust (spread dust on vs. wipe away dust) — First Clive dusted for fingerprints, then dusted the dust.
enthrall (delight vs. subjugate) — As master of the plantation, Mason was not enthralled about enthralling anymore.
fast (moving rapidly vs. unable to move) — When hungry, Marvin was fast to the table where he sat fast in his chair.
fixed (restore to function vs. make non-functional) — Rene fixed the puppy problem by getting the dog fixed.
fit (in good shape vs. convulsive behavior) — Rhoda Dendron was thought to be fit until she had a fit.
founder (to sink vs. one who establishes) — Funny Foods was bound to founder after the founder died of malnutrition.
goods (bad things vs. good things) — The cops had the goods on Moe when they caught him with the goods.
grade (level vs. inclined) — They only grade roads that have a steep grade.
handicap (advantage vs. disadvantage) — In golf, if you have a handicap, it's your opponent who has the handicap.
hysterical (being funny vs. overwhelmed with fear) — When the turkey burst into flames, it was hysterical how you got hysterical.
incorporate (establish vs. disappear in union) — Unable to get incorporated, the village of Yo was incorporated into the town of Ko.
last (just ending vs. enduring) — Harry’s last drink should last him the whole night.
left (gone away vs. remaining) — After the others left the phone booth, only Basil was left.
license (permission vs. unbounded freedom) — Marsha didn’t need a license to employ poetic license.
livid (red with anger vs. pale, gray-blue) — When Dopey turned livid with anger, Sneezy turned livid with fear.
mad (in love with vs. very angry) — I’m mad about you even when I’m mad at you.
mean (average vs. superior) — Mason is a man of mean talents who plays a mean game of handball.
off (turn off vs. turn on) — Marly had the alarm clock rigged to go off only when the lights were off.
overlook (to inspect vs. to neglect) — The window overlooks a garden which is pleasant if you overlook the dead plants.
oversight (thing watched vs. thing ignored) — Ellen’s oversight of dinner resulted in an oversight when it came to utensils.
patronize (favor with attention vs. showing insincere attention) — If you patronize my restaurant, please be so kind as to not patronize me.
peruse (read quickly vs. to read carefully) — First peruse the contract, then really peruse it.
pit (solid seed vs. open hole) — Paul pitched the peach pit into the pithy pit on purpose.
practice (attempt to become skillful vs. skillful job) — After much practice with the scalpel, Dr. Bones set up his own practice.
presently (now vs. later) — Presently Santa is stuck in the chimney, but he will be here presently.
refrain (not do vs. do again, as in a song) — With rap music, please refrain from the refrain.
rent (to let vs. to to lease) — Micky would like to rent his house to a man who prefers to rent than own.
rock (an immovable thing vs. a tilting movement) — Jason stood like a rock until Millie’s punch made him rock back.
sanctioned (approved vs. disappoved) — Merle was sanctioned for cussing during a sanctioned tennis match.
screen (display vs. conceal from view) — The censors decided to screen the film “Hardly Coming” behind a screen.
seed (remove seeds vs. plant seed) — Pa said, “Let me seed the squash this time and you go seed the fields.”
store (keep vs. place to sell) — What antiques I can’t store, I sell at the antique store.
struck out (hit vs. miss) — After Casey struck out, he struck out at the umpire.
tempered (softened vs. hardened) — Delilah tempered Samson’s tempered strength by means of a shortcut.
terrific (wonderful vs. horrible) — Except for his broken arm, Myron felt terrific after his terrific accident.
think (believe a truth vs. be uncertain about a fact) — Gail thinks you are an idiot, I think.
time (long duration vs. an instance) — Only time will tell if Myrna will ever get to work on time.
transparent (invisible vs. obvious) — It was transparent to all that she knew her blouse was transparent.
trim (prune vs. decorate) — After we trim the tree to fit in the living room, we will trim it with trivia.
tripped (stepped lightly vs. stumbled) — Saul tripped lightly down the sidewalk until he tripped on a crack.
unpeeled (with rind removed vs. still with rind) — You get an unpeeled apple by peeling an unpeeled apple.
weathered (worn away vs. beared up well) — Whether the weathered wreck weathered the wind worried Weatherby.
wind up (beginning vs. ending) — If you wind up the toy too much it will wind up broken.
Some may be questionable.
aboard (alongside vs. inside)
adumbrate (clarify vs. cast a shadow over)
against (in the direction of and in contact with vs. in an opposite direction)
alight (settle onto vs. dismount from)
anabasis (a military advance vs. a military retreat)
anon (soon vs. later)
apology (admission of fault vs. formal defense)
argue (try to prove by argument vs. argue against)
aught (all vs. nothing)
biannual (twice a year vs. once every two years
bimonthly (twice a month vs. once every two months
biweekly (twice a week vs. once every two weeks
certain (definite vs. not specific, as in "he had a certain feeling")
charter (grant for pay vs. use for pay
chuffed (pleased vs. annoyed)
cipher (zero vs. any number)
cognomen (first name vs. last name)
comprise (to contain; include vs. be composed of; consist of)
consult (ask for advice vs. give advice)
contingent (unpredictable vs. dependent on a known condition)
copemate (partner vs. antagonist)
cork (take out a cork vs. insert a cork into a bottle)
counterfeit (a legitimate copy {archaic} vs. a copy meant to deceive)
critical (opposed to {critical of} vs. essential to)
crop (plant or grow vs. cut or harvest)
cull ( select vs. reject)
cut (get in (as in line or queue vs. get out (as in a school class)
deceptively (more than it looks vs. less than it looks)
dike (wall vs. ditch)
discursive (proceeding coherently from topic to topic vs. moving aimlessly from topic to topic)
dollop (a large amount vs. a small amount)
down (hill {archaic} vs. valley)
dress (put covering on {usually clothes} vs. take covering {usually skin} off)
dyke (wall vs. ditch)
effectively: (doing the equivalent of the real thing vs. doing the real thing and doing it well)
enjoin (direct vs. forbid)
fearful (causing fear vs. being afraid)
filter (allow to pass through vs. prevent from passing through)
fine (just meets minimum standards vs. considerably better than average)
finish (kill vs. make perfect)
fireman (firefighter vs. fire-stoker on a train or ship)
flesh (add substance; flesh out vs. take away; clean a hide of flesh)
flog (criticize harshly vs. promote aggressively)
garnish (add something to, as food vs. take away from, as wages)
give out (produce vs. cease functioning)
handicap (advantage {in sport} vs. disadvantage; disability)
help (assist vs. preven, as in "I can't help it if...")
hold up (support; cope vs. hinder; delay)
homely (ugly in U.S. vs. pleasant in U.K.)
impregnable (impossible to enter vs. able to be impregnated)
inoculate (protect against vs. infect with)
joint (combine vs. separate, as meat)
lease (lend; rent out vs. borrow; hire)
let (hinder {archaic} vs. allow}
liege (sovereign lord, loyal subject
literally (actually vs. figuratively)
mark (write vs. read, as in "mark my words")
model (archetype; example vs. copy; replica)
moot (debatable; arguable vs. academic; irrelevant)
mortar (glue together vs. blow apart)
nervy (showing calm courage vs. exitable)
out (visible, as in "the stars are out" vs. invisible, as in "the lights are out")
peer (an equal; fellow (e.g. classmate) vs. a nobleman; person of higher rank)
pitch (erect and fix firmly in place vs. throw away)
pitted (with the pit in vs. with the pit removed)
policy (required activity without exception vs. an optional course of action)
populate: (decimate the population {archaic} vs. increase the population)
prescribe: (lay down a rule vs. become unenforceable)
priceless (have a very high value vs. having no marked value)
protest (object vs. affirm)
put (lay vs. throw, as a shot put)
puzzle (pose a problem vs. solve a problem)
qualified (competent, as an applicant vs. less than competent, as a qualified reply)
quantum (very small, as in physics vs. very large, a in "quantum leap")
quiddity (essence vs. trifling point)
ravel (tangle; complicate vs. disentangle; separate)
recover (hide away; cover again vs. bring out)
reel (wind onto vs. let out from)
release (let go vs. hold on, as lease the property again)
replace (take away, as worn carpet vs. put back, as the papers in a file)
repress (hold back vs. put forth (press again)
reprove (rebuke vs. support, as a scientific theory)
reservation (a firm commitment to be somewhere vs. a hesitation about something)
reside (stay put vs. change teams)
resign (quit a contract vs. sign the contract again)
restive (refusing to move, as a restive horse vs. restless; moving around)
restore (bring something back to view vs. putting something back in storage)
riot (violent disorder vs. revelry)
rival (an opponent vs. a companion or associate {archaic})
root (remove completely vs. become firmly established)
sanguine (describing someone worked up into a bloody rage vs. someone calm about something)
scan (examine closely vs. look over hastily
secrete (extrude vs. hide)
set (fix in place vs. flow; move on)
shank (latter part of a period of time vs. early part of a period of time)
shop (search with the intent to buy vs. search with the intent to sell)
sick (unpleasant vs. wonderful {slang})
siren (seductive sound vs. harsh sound)
skinned (with the skin on vs. with the skin removed)
snap (break into pieces vs. fasten together)
splice (join together vs. cut in two)
stain (color vs. discolor)
stem (start or originate vs. stop or restrain)
stipulate (request explicitly vs. agree to)
table (propose in U.K. vs. set aside in U.S.)
temper (soften; mollify, as justice vs. strengthen, as a metal)
tilt (incline toward vs. charge against
topped (put something on top vs. take the top off, as in trees
tube (insert a tube in vs. enclose in a tube)
unbending (rigid vs. relaxing
unqualified (not qualified vs. very qualified)
variety (one type vs. many types)
vegetative (full of life vs. dull, apathetic, passive)
vernacular (nonstandard speech vs. standard speech)
vital (lively vs. deadly)
water (pour water out vs. take on water)
wear (endure through use vs. decay through use)
with (alongside vs. against)
wraith (ghost of a dead person vs. apparition of a living person)
 Copyright© 2003-2012 by Jim Wegryn Hosted by Bluehost |
Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Contronyms or Antagonyms or Auto-antonyms
A Tale of Two Rabbis: FONTPAGEMAG.COM Sept 4 2012
kjguyg
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1. Avoid profanities or foul language.
2. Stay on topic.
3. No ad hominem attacks.
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6. Impersonators will be banned immediately.
These guidelines are very general and cannot cover every possible situation. Please don't assume that FPM management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment. We reserve the right to filter or delete comments or to deny posting privileges entirely at our discretion. Please note that comments are reviewed by the editorial staff and may not be posted immediately. If you feel your comment was filtered inappropriately, please contact us here.
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http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/110184/talking-wi...
The problem with Jewish liberals is that their politics are stuck in the 1940′s and 50′s.
The enemies of Jews are no longer the devout Christians and the guys in pickup trucks with guns and confederate flags. The antisemites are coming from the very people Jewish liberals identify and associate with.
They are the supposed “enlightened” acedemics from Harvard and Berkley etc. And in the newsrooms of the NY Times and the networks.
These forces attack and demonize Jews and delegitimize the Jewish right to self-determination under the guise of “criticism” of Israel, but it still amount to the same thing as it did in the 1930s
My opinion! "I prefer a powerful and proud Jewish State that is hated by the entire world than to be known as sad *******s from Auschwitz that is loved by one and all"
but with a mind as sharp as a scalpel.
I asked her then who was she going to vote for in the coming presidential election and she answered me
OBAMA OF COURSE...! ! !
I asked her what did she know about the man and she answered me she didn't have to know anything
about him, as long as he was her political party's choice...
I asked her then what is her party's presidential choice would have been a jackass and she answered me
she would still vote for the jackass.....
Needless to say, I rested my case...
And this is the same criteria which, according to polls, will make 60% of them to still reelect him...
Now,what is it with American Jews and the Democrap Party, which makes Republican Jews as scarce
as hen's teeth...??????
Would it be that, like German Jews before them, were first Germans and then perhaps...Jews ????
Well, allow me to tell them that history has the fatal tendency to repeat itself and that the pendulum will
swing back at one time or another and then I would love to see (if still alive by then) how a Hitler copycat
but more likely MUSLIM will deal with them
Miss Gottlieb is the lowest form of human existance. She is a traitor to her people and an embarassment to Jews around the world.
Some of those who have signed on with Rabbis for Obama have indicated that they do not object to the State of Israel but to Israel’s occupation of “Palestinian land.” When will they learn? Every time Israel has ceded territory, that territory has been turned into a base from which to attack her-Gaza, South Lebanon, and now Sinai. Nothing that Israel surrenders will bring peace. On the contrary, it will facilitate her enemies destructive promises. It was Albert Einstein who once defined insanity as doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results.
RABBI DR. BERNHARD Rosenberg
"Rabbi" Gottlieb doesn't know as much Torah as the average high school Yeshiva student. She, along with other Jews who support Barack Husein Obama have only an ethnic identity with being Jewish, a mere veneer.
Reform Judaism was concocted in dear old Deutschland to reduce or even eliminate antisemitism by making Jewish religious practice more like Protestant Christianity. . . .
Here is the Democrat 2012 Platform re: Israel.
http://freebeacon.com/pro-israel-language-removed...
Christians support Israel for a numerous reasons. It is simplistic, and judgmental, to believe that they only do so for "apocalyptic" reasons. It requires little original thought to buy into the knee-jerk reactions that liberal Jews have against the sister religion of Christianity.
Only when liberal Jews are more fearful of Iran than Pat Robertson will we ever know they have opened their eyes.
When, they say she is not a traditional Jew, is it that she is not a pre-exile Jew?..I don't think so, so they both appear to be traditional Jews, inexperienced in American politics.
Does Judaism have ecumenical rabbis? Are they political? Are they critical of the pre-exile form of Judaism?
Post exiles Jews, it would seem could identify with the Democrats, at least the MLK black voter type of Democrat.. and in light of the fact that Judaism does not have a clue, nor does it want to what pacifism is, it is highly likely a traditional Jew, but perhaps has some ritualistic customs, during services, that would appeal to American Jews.
Leftism/collectivism is the political ideology of Nazism, Fascism, and Communism/Socialism. They put the state above the individual. They believe everyone should subordinate their will to the party or "Fatherland." We believe that individual rights come before state rights.
Any true Jew will fight statism and collectivism with everything in their power: Romney instead of Obama.
Maybe Lynn Gottleib would be happier with a congregation in Iran -- where she could enjoy the persecution non-muslims receive at the hands of islamofascists first-hand.