Positively Seeking Orphaned/Unpaired Negatives.

Mary Russell · Post by **Mary Russell** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 11:26 am

With disconsolate, we use consoled all the time... Are you sure there's no consolate? Hmm. That reminds me of a consulate. Ah well... completely different.

Also, with return, we do use turn... But I guess there's not completely opposite anyway.

Mary Russell · Post by **Mary Russell** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 11:31 am

Algot Runeman wrote:
ageless (* - incorporated from World Wide Words)
countless (*)
disconsolate (*)
disembowel
disgust
dismantle (*)
disparage
hapless (*)
immaculate (This and the next stretch the 'rule' as they are very positive negatives...)
impeccable (...being without stains or sins.)
incongruous
indiscriminiate
ineffable (*)
inevitable
innocent (*)
inviolate
nondescript
ruthless
uncouth
ungainly (*)
unkempt (*)
unmentionables
unrequited
untoward (*)
unwieldy

Keep 'em coming!
--Algot

Mantle is a word. Apart from the noun usage, it can be used as a verb: to spread over a surface (like a mantle).

Oh, and uncouth doesn't work because couth is actually the positive form, meaning refined. And this isn't just used only in the dictionary. I've seen it in writing before...

mrdude · Post by **mrdude** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:59 pm

the grim squeaker wrote:I see.

Un-couth

Couth is actually a word:

â€“adjective
1. showing or having good manners or sophistication; smooth: Sending her flowers would be a very couth thing to do.
â€“noun
2. good manners; refinement: to be lacking in couth.

[Origin: 1895â€“1900; back formation from uncouth]

umsolopagas · Post by **umsolopagas** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 1:41 pm

mrdude wrote:
the grim squeaker wrote:I see.

Un-couth
Couth is actually a word:

â€“adjective
1. showing or having good manners or sophistication; smooth: Sending her flowers would be a very couth thing to do.
â€“noun
2. good manners; refinement: to be lacking in couth.

[Origin: 1895â€“1900; back formation from uncouth]

It is not a word you find being used too often. I'll have to try work it into a conversation.

Algot Runeman · Post by **Algot Runeman** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 3:55 pm

Thanks to Mary Russell and mrdude who challenged two words on the list.

Dismantle does appear to have mantle available, though I venture to guess few people describe those who put on house siding as "house mantlers" even though that is what they apparently are. People do commonly "finish" a fireplace with a mantle.
Therefore, dismantle seems questionable enough to put it under challenge for removal.

My research indicates that couth has an odd history. I don't find it in common usage among my friends, and it appears to be a "back-formation" from the negative that entered English alone.

From the Online Etymology Dictionary: Couth
Look up couth at Dictionary.com
O.E. cuÃ°e "known," pp. of cunnan (see can (v.)) died out as such 16c., but the word was reborn 1896, with a new sense of "cultured, refined," as a back-formation from uncouth (q.v.). The O.E. word forms the first element in the man's proper name Cuthbert, lit. "famous-bright."

Nonetheless, if couth has re-entered our language, it is clear that we cannot blithely keep uncouth in the list.We must be a couth group of word lovers. It, too is under challenge for removal.

Keep 'em coming!
--Algot

Mary Russell · Post by **Mary Russell** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:24 am

I've used couth before in spoken speech. Admittedly, I don't think I've used it more than once or twice...

the grim squeaker · Post by **the grim squeaker** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 3:36 am

Unkempt?

tollbaby · Post by **tollbaby** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:06 am

I think that was suggested last week.

Mary Russell · Post by **Mary Russell** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:54 pm

I wonder, does disturbed count?

Mary Russell · Post by **Mary Russell** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:55 pm

distressed?

Mary Russell · Post by **Mary Russell** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:57 pm

How about debunk?
I realize bunk is a word, but as a verb it doesn't mean the positive form of debunk:

â€¢ BUNK (verb)
The verb BUNK has 3 senses:

1. avoid paying
2. provide with a bunk
3. flee; take to one's heels; cut and run

Familiarity information: BUNK used as a verb is uncommon.

umsolopagas · Post by **umsolopagas** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 1:37 pm

The English language, in origin and evolution, incorporates a lot from several different European tongues and following this concept of derivation, prefixes and suffixes are routinely added to words to negate their definitions. The most noticeable prefixes being un- , in- and dis- with the suffixes commanding a lesser number; -less being the most common. Unpaired words are not limited to those no longer defined in the dictionary since a word is classified as obsolete by declining frequency of use or by change in definition. In a number of cases the derivative may take root in every day usage as the parent word falls into disuse, and vice versa. Thus, you will encounter words that will not have a antonym when the negating prefix is removed.

In this respect the word dismantle has a lot of merit because (and correct me if this is wrong) it means to take apart but its antonym is not mantle which has myriad definitions, none of which can suitably approach to put together. Even in its alternate form of mantel one struggles to see an antonym. I feel we should not readily discard it as an orphaned word.

I add a nay to inclement in the scope of this thread and put forward unbeknownst (hey, why the red line, there is a pun somewhere here) and unflappable for discussion.

Algot, you used the word inadvertent a page back, does it strike the mark?

Algot Runeman · Post by **Algot Runeman** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 6:09 pm

Joy!

Con'-troversy!
Contro'-versy!
(Acknowledging the disagreement about where the pronunciation emphasis exists.)

Actually, my joy is found in the depth of consideration being given to this, I hope, enjoyable task we have begun. I think when making the next iteration of the list, I will simply label the words under challenge, not remove them. Maybe once we exhaust the search for a complete list, or when we simply get exhausted with the effort, we can take some kind of final poll to determine the fate of the contested words.

Until then, keep 'em coming!

RE: unbeknownst, my sense of the word is that it is the opposite of known just as unknown would be, but just harder to say.

at least making the user sound more smarterer. Unbeknownst to me, the word does sneak into my everyday language at least once - a - - - year(?)...I just don't always know it happened.

Indeed, umsolopagas, my use of inadvertent was not unintentional, and was actually not unbeknownst to me. I do think it hits the mark. I also like the recent recommendations: Your unflappable (and I do want to be so), debunk (though I did sleep in a bunk bed) from Mary Russell.

Disturb didn't displease me until I found out that dis- is used with the meaning: completely, a meaning I didn't realize existed and will need to pursue at length because I have only found that discontinuity in one place so far. Any help about this, or any other word in contest, is distinctly, discreetly encouraged.

--Algot

umsolopagas · Post by **umsolopagas** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 5:11 pm

I was checking up the word nonplussed and some of its synonyms are dismayed, discomfited and disconcerted. I think two of these had been submitted earlier (don't feel like checking now

).

the grim squeaker · Post by **the grim squeaker** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 8:24 am

Disclose.

Mary Russell · Post by **Mary Russell** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 2:18 pm

disparaging
have we done dismayed?

the grim squeaker · Post by **the grim squeaker** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 6:57 am

We have now, good one.

umsolopagas · Post by **umsolopagas** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 8:29 pm

the grim squeaker wrote:Disclose.

Close - to be secretive.

the grim squeaker · Post by **the grim squeaker** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 6:27 am

*Curses loudly*

Have we had distract?

mccormack44 · Post by **mccormack44** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 11:22 am

Have we had discombobulate?

the grim squeaker · Post by **the grim squeaker** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 12:04 pm

Man I love that word.

Algot Runeman · Post by **Algot Runeman** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 2:30 pm

Friends, Romans, book lovers...

Are we without conscience if we don't include unconscionable?

My searching indicates that the use of conscionable is rare. How about in the company you keep?

Discombobulate seems to have been created to express some U.S. word lover's confusion, and without any offsetting positive form. Further, let us not be discomfited. I, too, adore the word, while I dislike being discombobulated. Thanks Sue (mccormack44).

Keep 'em coming!
--Algot

Algot Runeman · Post by **Algot Runeman** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 10:49 am

I am not a dyspeptic person. I am currently trying to lose some of the weight resulting from a lifetime of good digestion. I am happy about it.

Keep 'em coming!
--Algot

Mary Russell · Post by **Mary Russell** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 11:32 am

ingratiate?

Mary Russell · Post by **Mary Russell** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 11:33 am

Can you count dystopia if the opposite has to add another letter (u-topia)?