Journal Chacham's Journal: Puzzle: predicating "un" without it being an antonym 18
Normally, when adding the letters "un" to the beginning of a word, it is a prefix that makes the word mean its opposite. For example, "clean" and "unclean", "lock" and "unlock", and "friendly" and "unfriendly".
Then I noticed the words "canny" and "uncanny". Not only is uncanny not its opposite, but it means even more so! So, I've been asking people for words that when the letters "un" are attached to its beginning, that the word does not mean its opposite. An early candidate mentioned by my brother was "icicle" and "unicycle". That sounded great, until we realized the spelling difference. A friend mentioned "it" and "unit", which I particularly liked. I wanted to add "animus" and "unanimous", but my lexicon shattered those dreams.
So far the list is:
canny/uncanny
it/unit
Any others?
Added: less/unless (Twirlip)
Added: to/unto (Friend)
Added: ionize/unionize (Dannon)
On a related topic (Score:2)
Interesting interesting.
Off Topic... (Score:2)
Me fail english? That's unpossible!
Re:Off Topic... (Score:2)
Not an un- difference, but... (Score:1)
inflammable
Since in- is often used in the same way as un- which is to say as a negation. Of course, inflammable is not properaly the opposite of flammable
Re:Not an un- difference, but... (Score:2)
Re:Not an un- difference, but... (Score:2)
famous
infamous
sight
insight
step
instep
seam
inseam
And there was another I was thinking of that I just lost. Oh well.
In other words, the "un" words Chacham is looking for are much harder to find than the "in" words.
That said, I found another one:
animous
unanimous
Re:Not an un- difference, but... (Score:1)
How about... (Score:2)
Re:How about... (Score:2)
Re:How about... (Score:2)
"Canny" and "uncanny" (Score:2)
Re:"Canny" and "uncanny" (Score:2)
Generally, I see is used as "a canny ability", or "a canny person".
What about... (Score:2)
unicorn = mythical beast
What about... (Score:2)
Re:What about... (Score:2)
Re: about... (Score:1)
double negative makes .. a negative? (Score:1)
Un- is a negation -- similar to de-, dis- or in- (which becomes im- when followed by a 'p' or 'm' sound).
So any 'un-i-this' or 'un-i-that' is unlikely to have the same meaning as 'this' or 'that' because you'd be looking at different base words. Similarly, 'unit' is not a negation of 'it' -- they're from different root words and from different source languages -- built it's cool that they can be read as a base and its negation. I can't think of any others that match, but now I'll be thinking about it.
In the meantime, I could go on a whole branch of prefix/suffix modifications of base words and sound-alikes (propose/depose/impose, etc.), but that'd get far off topic. To stray only a little: I'd like to add that my favorite stupidly negated word is indefatigable.
1) fatigue - (v) exhaust (tire) (n) exhaustion (a state of being tired).
2) fatigable - (adj) being susceptible to exhaustion.
3) infatigable - (adj) being unsusceptible to exhaustion. -- archaic
4) indefatigable - (adj) being unsusceptible to exhaustion.
Why'd we drop the shorter, more logical form for the longer double negative of the same meaning???
another (Score:1)
(the original spelling was untill; or, if you prefer, the OED cites 'til as a 20th century contraction.)