contronym

English

Etymology

From contr(a)- +‎ -onym. Coined 1962 by Jack Herring.[1] Note that the vowel of the suffix generally supersedes the vowel of the prefix, hence coined as contronym, rather than contranym.

Noun

contronym (plural contronyms)

  1. A word that has two opposing meanings, such as cleave (“stick together” or “split apart”).
    Alternative form: contranym
    Synonyms: autoantonym, antagonym, Janus word
    Hypernyms: word < term < seme
    Near-synonym: enantioseme

Derived terms

Translations

See also

References

  1. ^ Herring, Jack. Word Study (February 1962).
  • Lederer, Richard. "Curious Contronyms." Word Ways, 11 (February 1978): 27-28.
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