Autoantonyms
An autoantonym is a word which has two meanings which are opposites of each other.
It may have several other meanings - only the two contradictory meanings are significant and give an autoantonym its curious "Humpty-Dumpty" quality.
The word CLEAVE - meaning either 'to split asunder' or 'to join together' - is a perfect example of an autoantonym.
Other autoantonymous words are:
CHUFFED | pleased, delighted | displeased, disgruntled |
DUST | remove dust | sprinkle with dust |
INFLAMMABLE | flammable | not flammable |
INHABITABLE | habitable | not habitable |
INSCIENT | ignorant | having secret or inward knowledge |
LEFT | remaining | gone away |
LET | to permit | to hinder, to prevent |
OVERLOOK | ignore | inspect |
PINK | a light red color | a greenish-yellow pigment |
PRESENTLY | now | later |
QUITE | completely, absolutely | to a partial extent, somewhat |
ROCK | a sure foundation, anything immovable | a swaying or tilting movement |
SANCTION | authorization, aid or encouragement | coercive measure intended to discourage |
SCREEN | to conceal from view | to display ( a film etc.) |
TRIP | to move lightly and nimbly | to stumble |
VAPULATE | to flog | to be flogged |