From the Instagram account depthsofwikipedia, here, comes this series called “auto-antonyms.” These are words that have two meanings usually considered opposites. Note to the uninitiated: You don’t have to be a professional linguist to love ’em.
For example…
Oversight can mean either “accidental omission / error,” or “close scrutiny / control.”
Sanction can mean either “approve,” or “penalize.”
Peruse can mean either “consider with attention in great detail,” or “look over in a cursory or casual manner.”
Table can mean either ‘discuss a topic at a meeting” (British usage), or “postpone discussion of a topic” (American usage).
Fast can mean either “without moving, fixed in place,” or “moving quickly.”
Dust can mean either “removing dust” (as in “clean the house”), or “adding dust” (as in “sprinkle a cake with powdered sugar”).
Clip can mean either “attach,” or “cut off.”
Cleave can mean either “cling to,” or “split apart.”
Custom can mean either “made to an individual’s exact specification,” or “a commonplace practice across an entire culture.”
Patronize can mean either “support” (economically), or “belittle” (emotionally).
Got any others you particularly love – or hate?
C’mon all you inveterate bibliophiles: Show us your stuff!
And as if that’s not enough, there’s this further canary-in-a-coal-mine wisdom from one of my favorite wise-guys, John Cleese. (Hmmm, “wise-guys,” another auto-antonym, perhaps?) Plus a bonus climate change commentary from two frogs in a pot: One is sanguine. The other is not.
Which of course brings to mind another in this series of auto-antonyms just to close things out: Sanguine can mean either “bloody” or “optimistic, especially in a bad situation” – you make the call. But please, hop to it before the water boils: Word to the wise, guys.