lemonadebunny@lemmy.ca to Asklemmy@lemmy.mlEnglish · 1 year agoWhat is something that sounds 100% false but is actually 100% true?message-squaremessage-square654fedilinkarrow-up1638arrow-down117
arrow-up1621arrow-down1message-squareWhat is something that sounds 100% false but is actually 100% true?lemonadebunny@lemmy.ca to Asklemmy@lemmy.mlEnglish · 1 year agomessage-square654fedilink
minus-squarefubo@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up17·1 year agoA description is “autological” if it describes itself. For example: “Short” is a short word, so it is autological. The phrase “excessively verbose, wordy, redundant, repetitious, repetitious, and prolix” also describes itself, so it too is autological. “Written in English” is written in English, so it is autological. A description is “heterological” if it does not describe itself. For example: “Long” is not a long word; so it is heterological. “Bisyllabic” is not a bisyllabic word, so it is heterological. “Written in Arabic” is not written in Arabic, so it is heterological. Now, is the word “heterological” itself heterological?
minus-squarebionicjoey@lemmy.calinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up6arrow-down1·1 year agoThe following phrase is autological: “is currently being read by an idiot”
A description is “autological” if it describes itself. For example:
A description is “heterological” if it does not describe itself. For example:
Now, is the word “heterological” itself heterological?
The following phrase is autological: “is currently being read by an idiot”