Autoantonym

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A linguistic term is used to describe a word that has opposing meanings, functioning as both a synonym and antonym simultaneously in different contexts
2. This term identifies a word possessing dual meanings that can represent contradictory concepts depending on usage
3. It refers to a specific type of word that serves as both its own synonym and antonym, illustrating the complexity of language use

Etymology: The most surprising thing about "autoantonym" is that it names a phenomenon whose name is itself a compound of two Greek-derived pieces assembled in modern times. The first part, "auto-", comes from Greek "autos", meaning "self", and the second, "antonym", comes from Greek "anti-" ("against") plus "onoma" ("name"). Put together, the term means a word that is, in a sense, its own opposite. The coinage belongs to Joseph T. Shipley, who used the form "autantonym" in his 1960 book "Playing with Words". The variant "autoantonym" is the form used in this entry, and it follows the same logic: a word that carries two contrary senses within itself. Classic examples in English include "cleave", which can mean both to split apart and to cling together, and "sanction", which can mean both to permit and to punish.