Antonyms

[TeeDee]

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.

 

[JonathanD]

Christ - Anti Christ
Herpetologist - Ophiologist.

 

[Kadushu]

Disgruntled - gruntled

 

[TeeDee]

Disgruntled - gruntled

Gruntled - pleased, satisfied, and contented


Nice one!

 

[Fadcode]

unadulterated......adulterated

 

[TeeDee]

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.

 

[Fadcode]

cant remember anyone using the word adulterated in respect of anything being corrupt.

 

[Wander]

Gormless - Gorm

Gorm is derived from Old Norse, meaning to have wisdom, but the word fell out of use whilst 'gormless' remained.

 

[Broch]

Spective - retrospective

 

[crosslandkelly]

Unmarred.
Marred.

 

[Paul_B]

I'm sure I've used some of those antonyms so they can't be lost.

 

[TeeDee]

I'm sure I've used some of those antonyms so they can't be lost.

Some are maybe more lost than others.

 

[Paul_B]

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.

 

[bobnewboy]

licit and illicit

 

[Mesquite]

Vivial and convivial

 

[TeeDee]

licit and illicit

That's brilliant - I never thought of that one. Thanks.

 

[Fadcode]

incongruous....congruous

 

[Oliver G]

If a dummy round is "inert" is a live round "ert"?

 

[Macaroon]

I expect they ert a lot if one hits you, eh?

 

[Billy-o]

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