Sound and Sense, 61

We’re moving next to the homophone: a word pronounced the same as another but differing in meaning, whether spelled the same way or not, as heir and air. So … contronyms are words that have contradictory meanings (sanctiion = approve and disapprove; homophones sound alike but to not mean the same—and often are not spelled the same, either.

1. ait (noun) a little island (Brit.)

2. ate (verb): past tense of eat

3. eight (noun and adjective): the number between 7 and 9 (duh)

They lived for years—a private ait—

Where they had gone for their first date.

And there they laughed and loved and ate

And had their children—there were eight.

Their lives had much to celebrate,

But then they died (oh, such is Fate!),

But since they’d both been truly great,

They passed right through the Pearly Gate—

Without debate.