Sound and Sense, 5

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.

buckle verb

1. to connect

2. to break or collapse

His buckled, tightly, his new belt—

And this is kind of what he felt:

He wished he’d bought a larger size:

His gut his smaller belt defies.

’Twas time to diet (to endure).

He’d start … tomorrow … that’s for sure.

**

He walked across the fragile bridge—

And dreamed of his capacious fridge.

Oh, my, the treats that waited there—

Especially that rich éclair!

Oh, all that food seemed heaven-sent.

The bridge then buckled—down he went.

A grieving friend wrote such a song:

“Don’t Put Your Diet Off Too Long.”