Re: CHAT: Rumpelstiltskin (was Re: milimpulaktasin)

> From: Muke Tever
>
> From: "Roger Mills" <romilly@...>
> > >Of course, "beautiful" and "ugly" connote very different value
> > >judgements--at least in our culture.  Perhaps in
> Milimpulaktasin culture,
> > >any sort of deviation from ordinary plain looks (whether towards the
> > >beautiful end or the ugly end of the spectrum) is equally praised or
> > >ridiculed.  An amusing idea, if implausible.
> > >
> > A rare phenomenon, though not unattested.  English "cleave" 1. split 2.
> > cling to (arch.) is at least one ex.
>
> I think I've seen them called 'contronyms'.
>
> Another is 'fast' [1. quickly in motion, 2. solidly stationary]
> ...and 'sanction' [1. permit, 2. forbid]
> ...and 'bolt'     [1. fasten, 2. run away quickly]
> ...and 'dust'     [1. to remove dust, 2. to cover in dust]
> ...and 'bad'      [1. not good, 2. good (80's slang...)]
I realize that to some of you youngsters, the 80s seems like a long time
ago, but I can assure you that the use of 'bad' to mean 'good' is a lot
older than that.

David

David E. Bell
The Gray Wizard
www.graywizard.net

Wisdom begins in wonder.

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