words
why does "cleave" mean the opposite of itself? Why does "flammable" mean exactly the same thing as "inflammable". And why are the redundancies "extra virgin" and "100% pure" used to describe olive oil and sunflower oil respectivley? Hmmmmmm...
4 comments:
Doesn't flammable mean 'burns easily' and inflammable mean 'won't catch fire'?
helen,
actually, they both mean 'easily ignited'
the inflammable from "inflame". as in, for instance, "She was suddenly inflamed with a burning desire for vengeance."
=)
or here in seattle, on the electronic readerboard on northbound interstate 5, a little before downtown seattle: "Inflammable materials prohibited on N I-5 underneath the convention center" (by which they are talking about trucks full of petrol--er, that is--"gasoline")
in that case, yes, it IS weird they both mean the same thing! :)
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