Language & Literature

The Contronym – a Word that Bends Over Backwards

I expect most of you have heard of antonyms, and even if you haven’t heard the word, you know them and use them every day. Antonyms are words that mean the opposite. For example, hot is the antonym of cold, rich is the antonym of poor.

But what happens when we have a word that doesn’t have another antonym – it is the antonym of itself?! You are probably wondering what on earth that could mean. Well, there are some words that have two meanings which are the opposite of each other. This makes the word its own antonym. Words like this are known as contronyms.

LEFT

One very common one that we shall start with is a word that you use all the time without ever thinking about it being a contronym. This is left, which can mean “gone, departed” or “still there, remaining” . If you have gone, then you have left, but if everyone else except you has gone, then you are left!

Science, Nature and Tech

Will the Sixth Mass Extinction Event Happen on Our Watch?

The very first life on Earth evolved over 3 billion years ago. Since then there have been five mass extinction events, the last of which killed off the dinosaurs. Some scientists now believe that we are on the verge of a sixth event. But what causes these mass extinctions and what can we do?

Science, Nature and Tech

Why We Should Love Clouds

Have you ever looked up at the sky and wondered where clouds come from? Sure, they can form a huge range of different shapes and sizes, but why are they here? Don’t they just block the sunlight on a summer’s day and ruin our holidays with constant showers? The answer is more surprising than you might expect!

Written By You

The Fall – A Short Story in Three Parts – Part Two

The second of a three part short story. If you missed the beginning, start reading here

My hands have no feeling.

My feet up to my lower thigh is numb. My stomach and chest is icy cold. I feel so light-headed I might as well faint. I have propped up my rigid body by a peeling black-painted gate which is pricking my back.

Someone stole my blanket, and now I am as good as a chunk of ice.

Home, Health & Style

Woolly Hugs

Sometimes sad things happen, and when that happens we need a hug.

Sometimes sad things happen to people we know, and we offer them a hug.

Sometimes sad things happen to people we don’t really know and we feel helpless. We want to offer comfort but don’t know how. We want to hug them, but they are too far away, or not really good enough friends so that we feel we can offer a hug.