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What is the term for a word which has the meaning changed to its opposite?
The Next CEO of Stack OverflowWhat is the term for a word that has come to mean the opposite of its orignal meaning?What happened around 1700 that transformed / changed the English language?When and how has the word 'nigger' lost its neutral meaning?How has the meaning of “politically correct” changed?“Initial” is pronounced “inishal,” so why isn't the verb “initiate” pronounced “inishate”?What is the historical English word for graffiti?What is a better word for 'condescending' (whose meaning has changed)?Did a “spliff” originally refer to a mixture of tobacco and cannabis or just cannabis?The recent invention of the word “heterosexual”Has the meaning of the English colour name “pink” changed since the early 1900s?Why is “make do” considered correct
This question was originally posted here:
What is the term for a word that has come to mean the opposite of its orignal meaning?
I don't think it should have been marked as a duplicate: the "duplicate" question was asking about auto-antonyms/contronyms; however, this question refers to words that no longer hold their original meaning (I'm almost sure, necessarily via misuse). Whereas contronyms can mean two, opposite things, the type of words we're asking about no longer hold two meanings; they just mean one thing opposite to what they originally meant.
[This question might be better for meta. In which case, I'd appreciate if somebody with the requisite points posts it there].
I came across this question while wondering about the verb "Nonplus," or specifically about the passive participle, "Nonplussed." I've (mis)used the word, intending to mean "not at all affected or surprised," and have been understood, although it means the exact opposite.
So I'm re-opening this question!
Update to clarify some good points brought up in the comments to the initial post:
I'm referring to words whose actual meanings over time have changed to their initial meaning's opposites, not those whose connotations have switched from positive to negative or vice versa (as with "condescension," as Phil mentioned, or "innovation").
Another comment asked if there was an example of a word that lost its old meaning entirely. I think I found one: "hussy," according to this article, used to mean the mistress of a household, or housewife, which, to my mind, is an antonym for what it now means.
A better example is the phrase "hoity-toity." See this link for more on Michael Quinion's blog. I would post more links, specifically, to issues 802, 803, 851, and 852 of his Newsletter for mentions of "hoi polloi," whose misuse to mean the upper classes is becoming more prevalent, but I don't have enough points to post more than two links...
historical-change
edited Dec 25 '18 at 16:29
Hannah Kelley
285
asked May 8 '16 at 15:34
shdrums9shdrums9
194
|
show 9 more comments
This question was originally posted here:
What is the term for a word that has come to mean the opposite of its orignal meaning?
I don't think it should have been marked as a duplicate: the "duplicate" question was asking about auto-antonyms/contronyms; however, this question refers to words that no longer hold their original meaning (I'm almost sure, necessarily via misuse). Whereas contronyms can mean two, opposite things, the type of words we're asking about no longer hold two meanings; they just mean one thing opposite to what they originally meant.
[This question might be better for meta. In which case, I'd appreciate if somebody with the requisite points posts it there].
I came across this question while wondering about the verb "Nonplus," or specifically about the passive participle, "Nonplussed." I've (mis)used the word, intending to mean "not at all affected or surprised," and have been understood, although it means the exact opposite.
So I'm re-opening this question!
Update to clarify some good points brought up in the comments to the initial post:
I'm referring to words whose actual meanings over time have changed to their initial meaning's opposites, not those whose connotations have switched from positive to negative or vice versa (as with "condescension," as Phil mentioned, or "innovation").
Another comment asked if there was an example of a word that lost its old meaning entirely. I think I found one: "hussy," according to this article, used to mean the mistress of a household, or housewife, which, to my mind, is an antonym for what it now means.
A better example is the phrase "hoity-toity." See this link for more on Michael Quinion's blog. I would post more links, specifically, to issues 802, 803, 851, and 852 of his Newsletter for mentions of "hoi polloi," whose misuse to mean the upper classes is becoming more prevalent, but I don't have enough points to post more than two links...
historical-change
edited Dec 25 '18 at 16:29
Hannah Kelley
285
asked May 8 '16 at 15:34
shdrums9shdrums9
194
For what it's worth: Danish has a word for this phenomenon. The Danish word is "pendulord", which literally translates as "pendulum word". I don't know if this term is known in English, but I think it describes the concept nicely.
– oz1cz
May 8 '16 at 15:48
3
Can you give an example of a word which now means solely (and not more commonly) the opposite of A (its original meaning) rather than now carrying both senses?
– Edwin Ashworth
May 8 '16 at 15:50
When was the last time condescension carried a virtuous, take-the-high-moral-ground connotation? The meaning of the act not having reversed so much as our society having reversed it's norms. However, I'm not feeling too sanguine that it ticks all the boxes.
– Phil Sweet
May 8 '16 at 17:26
1
@Edwin Ashworth - Wishes were once a way to curse the recipient of the wish. The wish (the name of the individual) was inscribed on a bit of lead and tossed into a wishing well so as to descend closer to Hades. There the wish could be better acted upon by the bottom dwellers. Now, wishes are thought to bring a positive outcome for the recipient.
– Stan
May 9 '16 at 7:54
1
A colleague suggested this might be a case of "semantic bleaching"
– shdrums9
May 9 '16 at 16:32
|
show 9 more comments
This question was originally posted here:
What is the term for a word that has come to mean the opposite of its orignal meaning?
I don't think it should have been marked as a duplicate: the "duplicate" question was asking about auto-antonyms/contronyms; however, this question refers to words that no longer hold their original meaning (I'm almost sure, necessarily via misuse). Whereas contronyms can mean two, opposite things, the type of words we're asking about no longer hold two meanings; they just mean one thing opposite to what they originally meant.
[This question might be better for meta. In which case, I'd appreciate if somebody with the requisite points posts it there].
I came across this question while wondering about the verb "Nonplus," or specifically about the passive participle, "Nonplussed." I've (mis)used the word, intending to mean "not at all affected or surprised," and have been understood, although it means the exact opposite.
So I'm re-opening this question!
Update to clarify some good points brought up in the comments to the initial post:
I'm referring to words whose actual meanings over time have changed to their initial meaning's opposites, not those whose connotations have switched from positive to negative or vice versa (as with "condescension," as Phil mentioned, or "innovation").
Another comment asked if there was an example of a word that lost its old meaning entirely. I think I found one: "hussy," according to this article, used to mean the mistress of a household, or housewife, which, to my mind, is an antonym for what it now means.
A better example is the phrase "hoity-toity." See this link for more on Michael Quinion's blog. I would post more links, specifically, to issues 802, 803, 851, and 852 of his Newsletter for mentions of "hoi polloi," whose misuse to mean the upper classes is becoming more prevalent, but I don't have enough points to post more than two links...
historical-change
edited Dec 25 '18 at 16:29
Hannah Kelley
285
asked May 8 '16 at 15:34
shdrums9shdrums9
194
This question was originally posted here:
What is the term for a word that has come to mean the opposite of its orignal meaning?
I don't think it should have been marked as a duplicate: the "duplicate" question was asking about auto-antonyms/contronyms; however, this question refers to words that no longer hold their original meaning (I'm almost sure, necessarily via misuse). Whereas contronyms can mean two, opposite things, the type of words we're asking about no longer hold two meanings; they just mean one thing opposite to what they originally meant.
[This question might be better for meta. In which case, I'd appreciate if somebody with the requisite points posts it there].
I came across this question while wondering about the verb "Nonplus," or specifically about the passive participle, "Nonplussed." I've (mis)used the word, intending to mean "not at all affected or surprised," and have been understood, although it means the exact opposite.
So I'm re-opening this question!
Update to clarify some good points brought up in the comments to the initial post:
I'm referring to words whose actual meanings over time have changed to their initial meaning's opposites, not those whose connotations have switched from positive to negative or vice versa (as with "condescension," as Phil mentioned, or "innovation").
Another comment asked if there was an example of a word that lost its old meaning entirely. I think I found one: "hussy," according to this article, used to mean the mistress of a household, or housewife, which, to my mind, is an antonym for what it now means.
A better example is the phrase "hoity-toity." See this link for more on Michael Quinion's blog. I would post more links, specifically, to issues 802, 803, 851, and 852 of his Newsletter for mentions of "hoi polloi," whose misuse to mean the upper classes is becoming more prevalent, but I don't have enough points to post more than two links...
historical-change
historical-change
edited Dec 25 '18 at 16:29
Hannah Kelley
285
asked May 8 '16 at 15:34
shdrums9shdrums9
194
edited Dec 25 '18 at 16:29
Hannah Kelley
285
asked May 8 '16 at 15:34
shdrums9shdrums9
194
edited Dec 25 '18 at 16:29
Hannah Kelley
285
edited Dec 25 '18 at 16:29
Hannah Kelley
285
edited Dec 25 '18 at 16:29
Hannah Kelley
285
285
asked May 8 '16 at 15:34
shdrums9shdrums9
194
asked May 8 '16 at 15:34
shdrums9shdrums9
194
asked May 8 '16 at 15:34
shdrums9shdrums9
194
194
For what it's worth: Danish has a word for this phenomenon. The Danish word is "pendulord", which literally translates as "pendulum word". I don't know if this term is known in English, but I think it describes the concept nicely.
– oz1cz
May 8 '16 at 15:48
3
Can you give an example of a word which now means solely (and not more commonly) the opposite of A (its original meaning) rather than now carrying both senses?
– Edwin Ashworth
May 8 '16 at 15:50
When was the last time condescension carried a virtuous, take-the-high-moral-ground connotation? The meaning of the act not having reversed so much as our society having reversed it's norms. However, I'm not feeling too sanguine that it ticks all the boxes.
– Phil Sweet
May 8 '16 at 17:26
1
@Edwin Ashworth - Wishes were once a way to curse the recipient of the wish. The wish (the name of the individual) was inscribed on a bit of lead and tossed into a wishing well so as to descend closer to Hades. There the wish could be better acted upon by the bottom dwellers. Now, wishes are thought to bring a positive outcome for the recipient.
– Stan
May 9 '16 at 7:54
1
A colleague suggested this might be a case of "semantic bleaching"
– shdrums9
May 9 '16 at 16:32
|
show 9 more comments
For what it's worth: Danish has a word for this phenomenon. The Danish word is "pendulord", which literally translates as "pendulum word". I don't know if this term is known in English, but I think it describes the concept nicely.
– oz1cz
May 8 '16 at 15:48
3
Can you give an example of a word which now means solely (and not more commonly) the opposite of A (its original meaning) rather than now carrying both senses?
– Edwin Ashworth
May 8 '16 at 15:50
When was the last time condescension carried a virtuous, take-the-high-moral-ground connotation? The meaning of the act not having reversed so much as our society having reversed it's norms. However, I'm not feeling too sanguine that it ticks all the boxes.
– Phil Sweet
May 8 '16 at 17:26
1
@Edwin Ashworth - Wishes were once a way to curse the recipient of the wish. The wish (the name of the individual) was inscribed on a bit of lead and tossed into a wishing well so as to descend closer to Hades. There the wish could be better acted upon by the bottom dwellers. Now, wishes are thought to bring a positive outcome for the recipient.
– Stan
May 9 '16 at 7:54
1
A colleague suggested this might be a case of "semantic bleaching"
– shdrums9
May 9 '16 at 16:32
For what it's worth: Danish has a word for this phenomenon. The Danish word is "pendulord", which literally translates as "pendulum word". I don't know if this term is known in English, but I think it describes the concept nicely.
– oz1cz
May 8 '16 at 15:48
For what it's worth: Danish has a word for this phenomenon. The Danish word is "pendulord", which literally translates as "pendulum word". I don't know if this term is known in English, but I think it describes the concept nicely.
– oz1cz
May 8 '16 at 15:48
3
3
Can you give an example of a word which now means solely (and not more commonly) the opposite of A (its original meaning) rather than now carrying both senses?
– Edwin Ashworth
May 8 '16 at 15:50
Can you give an example of a word which now means solely (and not more commonly) the opposite of A (its original meaning) rather than now carrying both senses?
– Edwin Ashworth
May 8 '16 at 15:50
When was the last time condescension carried a virtuous, take-the-high-moral-ground connotation? The meaning of the act not having reversed so much as our society having reversed it's norms. However, I'm not feeling too sanguine that it ticks all the boxes.
– Phil Sweet
May 8 '16 at 17:26
When was the last time condescension carried a virtuous, take-the-high-moral-ground connotation? The meaning of the act not having reversed so much as our society having reversed it's norms. However, I'm not feeling too sanguine that it ticks all the boxes.
– Phil Sweet
May 8 '16 at 17:26
1
1
@Edwin Ashworth - Wishes were once a way to curse the recipient of the wish. The wish (the name of the individual) was inscribed on a bit of lead and tossed into a wishing well so as to descend closer to Hades. There the wish could be better acted upon by the bottom dwellers. Now, wishes are thought to bring a positive outcome for the recipient.
– Stan
May 9 '16 at 7:54
@Edwin Ashworth - Wishes were once a way to curse the recipient of the wish. The wish (the name of the individual) was inscribed on a bit of lead and tossed into a wishing well so as to descend closer to Hades. There the wish could be better acted upon by the bottom dwellers. Now, wishes are thought to bring a positive outcome for the recipient.
– Stan
May 9 '16 at 7:54
1
1
A colleague suggested this might be a case of "semantic bleaching"
– shdrums9
May 9 '16 at 16:32
A colleague suggested this might be a case of "semantic bleaching"
– shdrums9
May 9 '16 at 16:32
|
show 9 more comments
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
I can't believe I found this answer, but acceptable terms were coined in the 1960's- contranym and autantoym
The wikipedia article is title auto-antonym, which was coined at the same time.
answered 5 hours ago
KarlomanioKarlomanio
837311
add a comment |
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I can't believe I found this answer, but acceptable terms were coined in the 1960's- contranym and autantoym
The wikipedia article is title auto-antonym, which was coined at the same time.
answered 5 hours ago
KarlomanioKarlomanio
837311
add a comment |
I can't believe I found this answer, but acceptable terms were coined in the 1960's- contranym and autantoym
The wikipedia article is title auto-antonym, which was coined at the same time.
answered 5 hours ago
KarlomanioKarlomanio
837311
add a comment |
I can't believe I found this answer, but acceptable terms were coined in the 1960's- contranym and autantoym
The wikipedia article is title auto-antonym, which was coined at the same time.
answered 5 hours ago
KarlomanioKarlomanio
837311
I can't believe I found this answer, but acceptable terms were coined in the 1960's- contranym and autantoym
The wikipedia article is title auto-antonym, which was coined at the same time.
answered 5 hours ago
KarlomanioKarlomanio
837311
answered 5 hours ago
KarlomanioKarlomanio
837311
answered 5 hours ago
KarlomanioKarlomanio
837311
answered 5 hours ago
KarlomanioKarlomanio
837311
837311
add a comment |
add a comment |
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For what it's worth: Danish has a word for this phenomenon. The Danish word is "pendulord", which literally translates as "pendulum word". I don't know if this term is known in English, but I think it describes the concept nicely.
– oz1cz
May 8 '16 at 15:48
3
Can you give an example of a word which now means solely (and not more commonly) the opposite of A (its original meaning) rather than now carrying both senses?
– Edwin Ashworth
May 8 '16 at 15:50
When was the last time condescension carried a virtuous, take-the-high-moral-ground connotation? The meaning of the act not having reversed so much as our society having reversed it's norms. However, I'm not feeling too sanguine that it ticks all the boxes.
– Phil Sweet
May 8 '16 at 17:26
1
@Edwin Ashworth - Wishes were once a way to curse the recipient of the wish. The wish (the name of the individual) was inscribed on a bit of lead and tossed into a wishing well so as to descend closer to Hades. There the wish could be better acted upon by the bottom dwellers. Now, wishes are thought to bring a positive outcome for the recipient.
– Stan
May 9 '16 at 7:54
1
A colleague suggested this might be a case of "semantic bleaching"
– shdrums9
May 9 '16 at 16:32