Sound and Sense, 21

Our English dictionary has in it many words whose sounds and meanings can … confuse. In this next series of doggerel, I’ll be writing about several sorts of such words.

The first—the contronym: a word, says the Oxford English Dictionary, that has “two opposite or contradictory meanings.”

Earliest published use: 1962.

put out verb

1. extinguish

2. generate

He grabbed the fire extinguisher—

There was a fire to be put out—

It happened in a flurried blur.

His boss was very pleased about

The effort that he’d just put out:

“You’ll get a raise—well, pretty soon,”

He promised, and there was no doubt

That promised raise? A Looney Tune,

The sort that bosses often sing

When in the flush of victory,

But here is just the damnedest thing:

That raise? Invisibility.