Comments on: Positively Negative http://www.joyfulcynicblog.com/index.php/2008/05/19/positively-negative/ Laughter and Libertarianism from the Heartland Thu, 01 Apr 2010 03:20:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Sharon http://www.joyfulcynicblog.com/index.php/2008/05/19/positively-negative/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Sharon Tue, 27 May 2008 18:45:45 +0000 http://www.joyfulcynicblog.com/?p=38#comment-90 Of course. I suspect that there are really no negative words without corresponding positives. In some cases, the positive just isn't readily apparent. As a friend of my older son's pointed out, the opposite of <em>inept</em> is <em>adept</em>. In other cases, the positive has been lost, or is used more rarely than the negative. <em>Canny</em>, for instance, is heard less often that <em>uncanny</em>. (<em>Canny</em> and <em>couth</em> are both related to <em>ken</em>, knowledge.) In still other cases, what appears to be a negative word really isn't. <em>Distraught</em> is a variation of <em>distract</em>, which just means to pull apart. But still, it's great fun to play with.... Of course. I suspect that there are really no negative words without corresponding positives.

In some cases, the positive just isn’t readily apparent. As a friend of my older son’s pointed out, the opposite of inept is adept.

In other cases, the positive has been lost, or is used more rarely than the negative. Canny, for instance, is heard less often that uncanny. (Canny and couth are both related to ken, knowledge.)

In still other cases, what appears to be a negative word really isn’t. Distraught is a variation of distract, which just means to pull apart.

But still, it’s great fun to play with….

]]> By: The Crossed Pond http://www.joyfulcynicblog.com/index.php/2008/05/19/positively-negative/comment-page-1/#comment-84 The Crossed Pond Mon, 26 May 2008 23:01:47 +0000 http://www.joyfulcynicblog.com/?p=38#comment-84 <strong>Dear Joyful Cynic...</strong> Couth. ...... Dear Joyful Cynic…

Couth.
……

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