Definition of the word "opposite"

Question

Hi, I would be grateful if somebody could help me out.

As a simple example of my confusion, what do you think is the opposite of the word "good"? It could either be "bad", which is what your instinct tells you, or it could be "not good". However, if it is "not good" then this also includes the situation where whatever you are describing is neither good nor bad. I can see a case for using either, "bad" is the opposite of "good" in the sense that it has the exact same meaning but at the other end of the spectrum between "good" and "bad", but "not good" is the opposite of "good" in the sense that it encompasses every situation which "good" does not, thus including every possible situation.

The dictionary isn't particularly useful, it tells me that "opposite" means "diametrically different", and "diametrically" seems to mean "the exact opposite"!

If anyone has any views on this your comments would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Komadori · Accepted Answer

Are you wanting "opposite" or "good" defined?

I would say that in the case of "good" the opposite would be "not good" with "not good" being inclusive of "bad". English does not always have very strict rules, especially with such particulars.

Take for instance, the use of 'a' and 'an' when dealing with 'h'. When I was growing up, it was taught that there should be the use of 'an' before an h when it was silent, like in 'hour'. From what I can tell, this 'rule' has been lax, in recent years. It may also be something that has occured with American literary and cultural usage, versus England or Canada.

I'd also suggest looking at other dictionaries. The one I use most is, interestingly enough: http://www.dictionary.com .

On a side note, something of a quirky expression that cropped up while I was in high school ( several years ago ) was 'same difference'. It drove my English teacher batty, at the time. It's prettymuch a contraction of 'in the end, they are the same, no difference'.

You get that alot in Texas, by the way. So if you ever visit there, be fair warned!

CalifJim · Answer

http://www.quotes-zone.com/quotes/20/opposite.php

There are supposedly six to eight ways that things can be "opposites". I wish I could remember where I read that. Maybe someone else will respond and remind me.

Usually when x and y are opposites, they are often opposites only along the lines of one or two of the parameters of the situation and the same along all other lines. It is because the choice of parameter that any given x can have many opposite y's.

It is because of this flexibility in the concept of opposite that the opposite of "give" is "take" AND the opposite of "give" is "receive".

The anecdote is told of a child being asked to tell the opposite of "buy" (also in the source I can't remember). Of course we adults see it along the parameters of changing ownership. We reverse the direction of the object bought and the money exchanged, and we come up with "Sell is the opposite of buy." The child's answer was "make it yourself at home"!

As long as we're talking about opposites, how about the meaning of same? Wittgenstein makes an interesting observation. I paraphrase: When workmen are gathered around a pole which they are to stabilize in the ground with cement, when you want all of them to push together toward the center to hold up the pole while the cement is poured, you can say to them, "Everybody push in the same direction!" Now all the men around the pole will understand instinctively and will push inward. But Wittgenstein asks, "How can the men on opposite sides of the pole be pushing in the same direction? To the observer they are clearly pushing in opposite directions!"

So sometimes the same direction is the opposite direction.

Anonymous · Answer

0  Hi  i am a 4th grader i want to know the opposite of intricate,illuminated and passion?Can you help me. 0-

Clive · Answer

0Hi,02br
02br
00Welcome to the Forum.05002br
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01font00i am a 4th grader i want to know the opposite of intricate,illuminated and passion?Can you help me.02font02br
02br
00Not every word has an exact opposite. In addition, it often depends on the sentence or on the way in which you want to use the word. Here are some suggestions.02br
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01font00intricate02font00 plain, simple02br
02br
01font00illuminated 02font00unilluminated, dark, unlit02br
02br
01font00passion 02font00apathy, lack of passion, (adjective - passionless)02br
02br
00Write again if you need any more help, OK?02br
02br
00Your friend, Clive010id1

Anonymous · Answer

Hi, II'm in sixth grade and was wondering is you could answer this for my English lesson:

The opposite of eight and sleigh

Thanks.

BarbaraPA · Answer

Hello Anonymous,

Is it a trick question? There aren't really opposites to these words.

Definition of the word "opposite"

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