Reels tagged #contronym
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Contronyms
'Cleave' means both to split and to cling
A contronym is its own opposite. Cleave descends from two different Old English verbs that collided into one modern spelling.
Contronyms
'Sanction' can approve or punish
One sense comes from making something holy and lawful, the other from enforcing that law. Context alone tells you which.
Contronyms
'Dust' can add or remove
You dust a cake with sugar and dust a shelf to remove dust. The verb faces both directions.