fun English word oddities

Since when was 'respectlessness' a word?

Is it? Are you sure? I've never seen it before. And I would use disrespect instead.

What does 'ghoti' spell?

'fish'

It doesn't list my favourite. The word in the English language that means the opposite of itself.

Which post is making you 'huh?'

Whoever came up with that list had a lot of time on his/her hands. Just sayin'

Rob_In_MN said:

the word in the English langauge that means the opposite of itself.

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Well, there is one. Go on, have a stab at it. (Hint, one of the meanings is often used in a Biblical/archaic sense, though even today it still means the same. Sometimes, when it doesn't mean its opposite)

ETA: I've just thought of another one as well!

*snort*

Nice try...

IdiotsRUs said:

The word in the English language that means the opposite of itself.

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Come on, lady, release the gold!

I love facts like this! thanks for sharing.

Would it be ..... extraordinary?

Rob got the one I was thinking of - cleave means both adhere AND split in two. From different roots. Biblically it means getting jiggy or rather a joining together.

Another one (my aha! moment earlier) is sanction. I sanction your use of sanctions. From the same root, I think.

Although extraordinary...that has possibilities!

I love that list, so many things I didn't know/never thought of before!

IRU, when I first saw your comment all I could think of was the word "inflammable" which means easily combustible, but looks like it should mean not easily combustible.

Rob_In_MN said:

so, what do I win?

A cookie?

please say a cookie!!

The cookie was a lie

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An internet brownie with extra sprinkles!

IRU, when I first saw your comment all I could think of was the word "inflammable" which means easily combustible, but looks like it should mean not easily combustible.

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Yeah it does. I also wonder - what's the difference between flammable and inflammable? Is there one? ETA: Flammable, from Latin flammula "small flame," + able. Inflammable, from L. inflammare "to set on fire"

It's maybe like awful - it originally meant the opposite of what it means now (full of awe, not full of poop lol).


BTW: Extraordinary - means 'out of the ordinary' from the latin extraordinarius. Extra meaning 'outside of' So the 'extra' is like, um, extra-terrestrial, extra-marital? See also extraneous (external)

Man, I should stop geeking out like this...