The word 'spare' seems to have two opposite meanings
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According to the dictionary, 'spare' can mean either
give (e.g spare me a coin?)
or
refrain from doing so (e.g spare me the detail).
Does this mean I need to tell from the context?
No need to give other examples as now I have found out these words are called contronym or auto-antonym.
meaning auto-antonyms
asked Mar 28 at 16:52
JeffsonJeffson
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According to the dictionary, 'spare' can mean either
give (e.g spare me a coin?)
or
refrain from doing so (e.g spare me the detail).
Does this mean I need to tell from the context?
No need to give other examples as now I have found out these words are called contronym or auto-antonym.
meaning auto-antonyms
asked Mar 28 at 16:52
JeffsonJeffson
42
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Cleave is another. If not from the context, how?
– Jim
Mar 28 at 17:09
2
What exactly is the question here? If it is 'Does this mean I need to tell from the context?', the answer is yes, that's how one usually resolves ambiguities. That answer, however, seems to be fairly obvious; is there anything else that is being asked here?
– jsw29
Mar 28 at 17:34
add a comment |
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According to the dictionary, 'spare' can mean either
give (e.g spare me a coin?)
or
refrain from doing so (e.g spare me the detail).
Does this mean I need to tell from the context?
No need to give other examples as now I have found out these words are called contronym or auto-antonym.
meaning auto-antonyms
asked Mar 28 at 16:52
JeffsonJeffson
42
New contributor
Jeffson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
According to the dictionary, 'spare' can mean either
give (e.g spare me a coin?)
or
refrain from doing so (e.g spare me the detail).
Does this mean I need to tell from the context?
No need to give other examples as now I have found out these words are called contronym or auto-antonym.
meaning auto-antonyms
meaning auto-antonyms
asked Mar 28 at 16:52
JeffsonJeffson
42
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Jeffson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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asked Mar 28 at 16:52
JeffsonJeffson
42
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edited Mar 28 at 17:21
Jeffson
asked Mar 28 at 16:52
JeffsonJeffson
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asked Mar 28 at 16:52
JeffsonJeffson
42
asked Mar 28 at 16:52
JeffsonJeffson
42
42
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Cleave is another. If not from the context, how?
– Jim
Mar 28 at 17:09
2
What exactly is the question here? If it is 'Does this mean I need to tell from the context?', the answer is yes, that's how one usually resolves ambiguities. That answer, however, seems to be fairly obvious; is there anything else that is being asked here?
– jsw29
Mar 28 at 17:34
add a comment |
Cleave is another. If not from the context, how?
– Jim
Mar 28 at 17:09
2
What exactly is the question here? If it is 'Does this mean I need to tell from the context?', the answer is yes, that's how one usually resolves ambiguities. That answer, however, seems to be fairly obvious; is there anything else that is being asked here?
– jsw29
Mar 28 at 17:34
Cleave is another. If not from the context, how?
– Jim
Mar 28 at 17:09
Cleave is another. If not from the context, how?
– Jim
Mar 28 at 17:09
2
2
What exactly is the question here? If it is 'Does this mean I need to tell from the context?', the answer is yes, that's how one usually resolves ambiguities. That answer, however, seems to be fairly obvious; is there anything else that is being asked here?
– jsw29
Mar 28 at 17:34
What exactly is the question here? If it is 'Does this mean I need to tell from the context?', the answer is yes, that's how one usually resolves ambiguities. That answer, however, seems to be fairly obvious; is there anything else that is being asked here?
– jsw29
Mar 28 at 17:34
add a comment |
1 Answer
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Clip is a word with two opposite meanings. You can clip something together with a paperclip, and you can clip something from a magazine, separating image/article from the magazine.
answered Mar 28 at 17:04
W.E.W.E.
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When I was a boy, my British father used to give me a 'clip round the ear' if I was cheeky.
– Michael Harvey
Mar 28 at 18:01
1
Yeah, it has more than just 2 meanings
– W.E.
Mar 28 at 18:05
add a comment |
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Clip is a word with two opposite meanings. You can clip something together with a paperclip, and you can clip something from a magazine, separating image/article from the magazine.
answered Mar 28 at 17:04
W.E.W.E.
1057
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When I was a boy, my British father used to give me a 'clip round the ear' if I was cheeky.
– Michael Harvey
Mar 28 at 18:01
1
Yeah, it has more than just 2 meanings
– W.E.
Mar 28 at 18:05
add a comment |
0
Clip is a word with two opposite meanings. You can clip something together with a paperclip, and you can clip something from a magazine, separating image/article from the magazine.
answered Mar 28 at 17:04
W.E.W.E.
1057
New contributor
W.E. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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1
When I was a boy, my British father used to give me a 'clip round the ear' if I was cheeky.
– Michael Harvey
Mar 28 at 18:01
1
Yeah, it has more than just 2 meanings
– W.E.
Mar 28 at 18:05
add a comment |
0
0
0
Clip is a word with two opposite meanings. You can clip something together with a paperclip, and you can clip something from a magazine, separating image/article from the magazine.
answered Mar 28 at 17:04
W.E.W.E.
1057
New contributor
W.E. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Clip is a word with two opposite meanings. You can clip something together with a paperclip, and you can clip something from a magazine, separating image/article from the magazine.
answered Mar 28 at 17:04
W.E.W.E.
1057
New contributor
W.E. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered Mar 28 at 17:04
W.E.W.E.
1057
New contributor
W.E. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered Mar 28 at 17:04
W.E.W.E.
1057
answered Mar 28 at 17:04
W.E.W.E.
1057
1057
New contributor
W.E. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor
W.E. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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W.E. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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1
When I was a boy, my British father used to give me a 'clip round the ear' if I was cheeky.
– Michael Harvey
Mar 28 at 18:01
1
Yeah, it has more than just 2 meanings
– W.E.
Mar 28 at 18:05
add a comment |
1
When I was a boy, my British father used to give me a 'clip round the ear' if I was cheeky.
– Michael Harvey
Mar 28 at 18:01
1
Yeah, it has more than just 2 meanings
– W.E.
Mar 28 at 18:05
1
1
When I was a boy, my British father used to give me a 'clip round the ear' if I was cheeky.
– Michael Harvey
Mar 28 at 18:01
When I was a boy, my British father used to give me a 'clip round the ear' if I was cheeky.
– Michael Harvey
Mar 28 at 18:01
1
1
Yeah, it has more than just 2 meanings
– W.E.
Mar 28 at 18:05
Yeah, it has more than just 2 meanings
– W.E.
Mar 28 at 18:05
add a comment |
Jeffson is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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Cleave is another. If not from the context, how?
– Jim
Mar 28 at 17:09
2
What exactly is the question here? If it is 'Does this mean I need to tell from the context?', the answer is yes, that's how one usually resolves ambiguities. That answer, however, seems to be fairly obvious; is there anything else that is being asked here?
– jsw29
Mar 28 at 17:34