Antonyms

  • Hey Guest, Early bird pricing on the Summer Moot (29th July - 10th August) available until April 6th, we'd love you to come. PLEASE CLICK HERE to early bird price and get more information.

TeeDee

Full Member
Nov 6, 2008
10,447
3,652
50
Exeter
Antonyms are words typically opposite to each other - Good and Bad as an example.

There are other antonyms which have a meaning that seems to be lost in the vagaries of time.

As an example of what I mean these three examples should provide an idea.

UNCOUTH ;- lacking good manners, refinement, or grace.

RUTHLESS:- having or showing no pity or compassion for others.

UNKEMPT :- (especially of a person) having an untidy or dishevelled appearance.


But the antonym to these two words are older lost words

COUTH:- cultured, refined, and well mannered.

RUTH:- a feeling of pity, distress, or grief.

KEMPT :- (of a person or a place) maintained in a neat and clean condition; well cared for.


I know the hivemind here is strong and powerful so can anyone suggest some more? So words that either have something infront or behind them that change their meaning.
 

TeeDee

Full Member
Nov 6, 2008
10,447
3,652
50
Exeter
Just to reiterate , the words I'm looking for are the words that are uncommon and unknown ( common and known... ) such as the initial suggestions of Ruth , Kempt and Couth.
 

Paul_B

Bushcrafter through and through
Jul 14, 2008
6,151
1,544
Cumbria
I'm sure I used kempt a few times over recent years. I do find myself using unusual words, but they seem to fit when I use them of course.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Seagull

Billy-o

Native
Apr 19, 2018
1,981
975
Canada
The 'ert' there derives from 'art', it turns out :)

It can be entertaining to find a root .. like 'ject' (to throw) for example and examine the shifting senses of the term from the words built around it - abject, deject, project, retroject, inject, trajectory, project, object, reject, subject, conjecture, introject
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Stew and TeeDee

BCUK Shop

We have a a number of knives, T-Shirts and other items for sale.

SHOP HERE