[ExI] Language Changing Before Our Very Eyes

[gts]

On Thu, 24 May 2007 16:52:56 -0400, Lee Corbin <lcorbin at rawbw.com> wrote:

> Well, my claim is that there are *two* separate meanings of "near"

Of course you're correct about that, Lee.

One connotation of "near" has nothing whatsoever to do with space-time, as  
in:

"He received a B+ on his English exam, which was near to an A."

Another connotation has everything to do with space-time, as in:

"He sat near Lee during the English exam, so he could copy Lee's answers."

> You and Damien don't buy my theory; but I don't see why.

Can't speak for Damien, but I buy your theory.

I simply find it interesting and a bit amusing (and somehow even wrong)  
that "miss" and "collide" are obvious antonyms, but that treating them as  
nouns and prefacing them with the adjective "near" makes them into  
synonyms, and that this is true not only technically but also in the  
common parlance.

Concerning, say, a traffic incident, no literate person would blink an eye  
if you described a "near collision" as a "near miss", or vice versa!

Are you aware of any other antonyms that relate this way?

-gts