contronyms a contronym is a word that is its own antonym. learned that the other day helping g with his homework. his assignment is to give a synonym and an antonym for each of his vocabulary words. later i was boasting that i make it a point to use literally to mean to the letter as opposed to its common usage meaning figuratively. and i realized literally is its own antonym. the beautiful and talented alisa and myself came up with three more. then i googled. there's quite a list. including some obvious ones. and some seriously obscure ones that i didn't count. remarkably, our original four were not on the google lists. theory to a layman is unproven. to a scientist, it's proven. inflammable to a pompous ass means will burn. to a redneck, it means won't burn. bomb means both good and bad. bolt, fast, and left all mean stay and go. dust means to add fine particles and remove them. cleave means join and separate. garnish means add and take away (like wages). mean means average and exceptional. stars out means they're shining. lights out means they're not. oversight means to make and to prevent errors. sanction means to approve and disapprove. screen means to view and to hide from view. seed means to add them to a field and to remove them from a tomato. strike means to hit something but miss a pitch. transparent means visible government but invisible glass. weather means to wear down and not wear down. my unbending fingers are moving or not.  ¶ 8:00 AM