Sound and Sense, 30

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.

transparent adj.

1. invisible

2. obvious

“Your motives are transparent, Dan.

You hope we’ll think that you're a man.

But we can’t think that—no one can.”

I felt that was a little hard—

And so I took him to my yard

To see if he’d, you know, die hard.

He didn’t. Burying him with skill,

I left no sign, no lumpy hill,

And went inside and took a pill.

And later—through transparent glass—

I saw that there was greener grass

Right where he lay. You can’t surpass

That grave I dug. The plan so fine—

He’s lain out there since ’89.

I wonder: Did I cross the line?