Auto-antonym

#1

Post by tomkwok » Fri, Apr 10, 2015, 10:34 AM UTC

Re: Auto-antonym

#2

Post by toolslive » Fri, Apr 10, 2015, 4:43 PM UTC

  English:untie?
  German:untiefe?
  French:jamais?
  Dutch:aftrappen?precies?

Re: Auto-antonym

#3

Post by andrewrice » Fri, Apr 10, 2015, 5:24 PM UTC

The word "hack" can mean to assemble (e.g., hacking some code), but also to destroy (as in, hacking with an axe).

Re: Auto-antonym

#4

Post by spacemaus » Fri, Apr 10, 2015, 5:27 PM UTC

As a recovering language curmudgeon, it literally kills me that "literally" is now an auto-antonym too [1].

[1] http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_eng...

Re: Auto-antonym

#5

Post by binxbolling » Fri, Apr 10, 2015, 5:35 PM UTC

spacemaus wrote: post #4

As a recovering language curmudgeon, it literally kills me that "literally" is now an auto-antonym too [1]. [1] http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_eng...

"Now" seems an odd word choice considering it's been an auto-antonym since at least the days of Mark Twain.

Re: Auto-antonym

#6

Post by dllthomas » Fri, Apr 10, 2015, 5:35 PM UTC

spacemaus wrote: post #4

As a recovering language curmudgeon, it literally kills me that "literally" is now an auto-antonym too [1]. [1] http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_eng...

I actually disagree with the dictionary there. In my experience (and admittedly my sample is limited), no one intends "literally" to weaken or to make it clear that their usage is figurative. I think use of "literally" applied to something obviously not literal is just another example of hyperbole.

Re: Auto-antonym

#7

Post by spacemaus » Fri, Apr 10, 2015, 5:36 PM UTC

binxbolling wrote: post #5

spacemaus wrote: post #4

As a recovering language curmudgeon, it literally kills me that "literally" is now an auto-antonym too [1]. [1] http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_eng...

"Now" seems an odd word choice considering it's been an auto-antonym since at least the days of Mark Twain.

I should say "now officially", then :)

Re: Auto-antonym

#8

Post by Dylan16807 » Fri, Apr 10, 2015, 5:40 PM UTC

spacemaus wrote: post #4

As a recovering language curmudgeon, it literally kills me that "literally" is now an auto-antonym too [1]. [1] http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_eng...

"literally" is used as an intensifier, as a weaker form of its original meaning. It's not an antonym of itself.

Re: Auto-antonym

#9

Post by abecode » Fri, Apr 10, 2015, 5:44 PM UTC

would "civil war" count?

Re: Auto-antonym

#10

Post by gabriel34 » Fri, Apr 10, 2015, 5:56 PM UTC

Relevant discussion from 2 days ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9339540