Sound and Sense, 15

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.

left verb

1. remained

2. departed

And when the others simply left,

He felt so thoroughly bereft

That he had thoughts so far from kind:

“And once again I’m left behind!”

He thought, “Revenge! I'll bait a trap!”

But first he thought he’d take a nap.

But while he napped—well, while he tried—

His heart surrendered—he had died.

The moral of this tawdry tale?

Make quick revenge—or you may fail.