Word Play: A look at two-faced expressions

LINDSAY MAST, HOST: Today is Friday, February 16th. Good morning! This is The World and Everything in It from listener-supported WORLD Radio. I’m Lindsay Mast.

MYRNA BROWN, HOST: And I’m Myrna Brown. It’s time now for our Word Play for February. Commentator George Grant introduces us to the wild world of contranyms.

GEORGE GRANT: Four friends were invited over by a couple to watch the Super Bowl—or rather, since none of them were fans of the Chiefs, the 49ers, or Taylor Swift, they gathered to watch the commercials, eat nachos and wings, and enjoy one another’s company. Two of the guests left at halftime. The other two left at the conclusion of the game. So, the hosts were the only ones left.

Now, that may sound like the set up for a joke or perhaps a math problem from an elementary school textbook. In fact, it is an illustration of an etymological peculiarity known as janusism, antagonym, or contronym. Named for the mythological Roman god Janus, who had two faces looking in opposite directions simultaneously, janusisms are two-faced expressions: words or phrases that can have two contradictory meanings. In my previous example, the word left means both to depart and to remain: the friends left, so the hosts were the only ones left.

We use myriads of janusisms in our everyday English parlance. For example: to sanction can be either to approve of something or to boycott something. To overlook might be to supervise or to neglect; just as oversight could be either to monitor or to fail to monitor. To strike can mean to hit or to miss. Refrain could mean to cease and desist or to echo and repeat. The verb dust can be used to mean sprinkling on or wiping off, adding or removing. To hold up someone could mean supporting them; or it could mean restraining them. Weather describes both a coming storm and damage the storm leaves behind. A bill might be either a receipt or an invoice. A custom refers to a longstanding practice as well as a special, one-of-a-kind treatment. To enjoin could be either to impose or to prohibit. Fast can describe something that is speedy and mobile or something that is stabilized and held firm. Trip could be either a journey or a stumble.

The janusism handicap might be an advantage provided to ensure equality or a disadvantage that inhibits equality. The janusism fine could be quite excellent or merely adequate. The janusism transparent may mean invisible or obvious.

Think of the opposite meanings of words like grade, rock, shop, temper, and trim. Or there’s splice, let, mean, rent, let, and screen.

We could go on and on. Indeed, there are so many more janusisms to check out. Alas, it is now time for me to check out.

I’m George Grant.

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