[SonicPs]

"Sanction" is an interesting word, in that, depending on context, it can have diametrically opposing meanings. Words like this are called contronyms.
For example, the word "fast" can mean "moving quickly" as in "running fast", or it can mean "not moving" as in "stuck fast". To buckle can mean "to fasten" or "to bend then break". To weather can mean "to endure" or "to erode." This phenomenon is also called "enantionymy" or "antilogy".

[Promotiona]

Sanction is about passing judgement or enacting laws. The judgement itself can go either way.

[bUqLfXRI]

VetLegion's behind the curve. Forgive him, I don't think English is his first language.

[heilyprollecyspor]

How about citation:

You get one from a cop it is bad news.
You get one from the mayor and its good news.

[Aagotiq]

Originally posted by VetLegion
I think it's mindboggling how one word can be its own acronym

To sanction : to approve
To sanction : to punish
I think you meant antonym

[iodillalm]

Originally posted by Dauphin
Sanction is about passing judgement or enacting laws. The judgement itself can go either way. Dauphin's hit the nail on the head here. This works for Sloww's examples too:

Something can weather well or weather badly. Something can move fast or be stuck fast.

These come from the fact that their meaning is not contingent on the word itself, but on another word that goes with it (well/badly/move/stuck). The fact people say "this has weathered" is actually just poor English, where common usage has dropped the "badly".

Buckle is different, however, as to buckle comes from the noun buckle. Many words have two meanings, and buckle had as such with the noun buckle and the verb meaning to bend and break. However people referred to the act fo fastening a buckle as "to buckle" and so it now is a contronym.

Most contronyms only have one meaning, however there is a value-judgement that needs to go with it to state whether it's a positive or negative effect. (or fast/slow, etc.).

[Lidawka]

Originally posted by Zkribbler


No, he didn't.

Example two: to cleve --

to cling together
to chop apart Both are are a good definition of a cleveage: Two chopped apart heavy objects that cling together ( o Y o )

[softy54534]

Originally posted by Lazarus and the Gimp
"Blow" is another good example, unless anyone's ever had a particularly hazardous hummer. Cort has