On a quiz show yesterday they asked for a word which has two meanings which are opposites. They gave the contestants the meanings. I'm not going to ...yet, because I wondered if it was the only one. I don't mean words like 'nice' which used to mean the opposite to what they do now, nor do I mean American words which mean the opposite of what the English one does, though they are both interesting. I mean current words which have 2 opposite meanings, both either English or American. Over to you!

PS I didn't get the correct answer, even with the meanings - I hadn't a clue, but it wasn't a particularly obstruse word.

A few suggestions, though none of them seems right enough to shout 'Eureka!':

'presently' can mean now, or not right now.

'overlook' can mean to inspect, or to fail to see.

'fast' can mean either able to move quickly, or fixed in place so as to be unable to move.

'to lease' can mean to let on lease, or to take on lease, i.e. opposite sides of the transaction.

I don't suppose it's a trick question, but 'converse' is a word with two meanings, one of which is 'the opposite'.

Might think of something better by tomorrow.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/02/2022 08:47AM by IanB.

CLEAVE

Sanction


Les

[www.usingenglish.com]

Spoiler
don't look if you don't want to know

Good one, Johnny, I'll give you a citation for finding it so fast.


Les

p.s. I found mine here: [66.102.7.104]



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/02/2022 02:31PM by lg.

Citation? How about a Secretariat or a Seattle Slew ?

[www-personal.umich.edu]

Johnny, Les, Satirical, what great sites.
Marian, you must be satisfied now that there's more than one answer to the quiz !



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/02/2022 05:31PM by IanB.

Yes, highly satisfied - it was fun - thanks! JohnnySansCulo got the 'right' ie intended answer - and without the meanings - clever chap!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/04/2022 10:33AM by marian2.

I knew that one from reading those King Arthur books !

I'd heard the question before, not here on e-mule though.


Les

anon-

another time, later

(Archaic usage-

at once, now)