Quantum Quantity

Submitted by Jocelyn Rish on April 19, 2013 - 8:04am

My theme for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge is contronyms. A contronym is a word with two or more opposite meanings, making it its own antonym. Click here to find out more about these quirky words.

The letter Q is often a tough one for many of the A to Z challenge themes, but luckily my list of contronyms has four options. One of the options is quiddity, which was actually the #15tt word the day after contronym was the #15tt word (my first introduction to these weird and wonderful words). How is that for a weird coincidence? But since quiddity is such a rare word, I don’t want to feature it as the contronym of the day.

Two of the other Q contronym options are qualified and quite, and like some other words that have been on the list, I think it takes some stretching to really call their definitions opposites. So that leaves me with quantum as today’s featured contronym. I think it’s a solid offering, but since I wrote last year’s Q post on the show Quantum Leap, I do feel a slight sense of déjà vu.

Quantum – the smallest quantity of some physical property

~ or ~

Quantum – a large quantity; significant

In order to make quantum advances in our understanding of quantum particles, will we end up turning the world into a quantum pile of quantum dust?

Image courtesy of Victor Habbick / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Are you familiar with contronyms? Can you think of any ‘Q’ contronyms that might have escaped the list? How Quaint is Lily with her letter Q?

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Comments

Submitted by Lexa Cain on April 19, 2013 - 5:40am.

I never knew quantum could mean both things. Then do quantum physicists study big stuff or little stuff?? Hmmm...

I loved the show "Quantum Leap" btw. Fun post! :-)

Submitted by Michelle on April 19, 2013 - 7:35am.

I'm thinking of the show Quantum Leap. A big/small leap? These contronyms really show that the Emglish language is so complex... confusing too.

Submitted by Alex J. Cavanaugh on April 19, 2013 - 7:54am.

Same word, opposite meaning - clever theme. And no wonder kids have a hard time grasping English.

Submitted by J.L. Schmidt on April 19, 2013 - 9:35am.

I have never heard of a contronym before... but I think it's my new favorite thing ever! (I sort of felt that I knew "quantum" had two opposite meanings, but didn't give it a lot of thought)

Cool theme!

Happy A-Zing!

Submitted by Susan Taylor on April 19, 2013 - 12:30pm.

Had a comment all typed in here, and Google couldn't hang on to it! As a mentioned in a comment on another one of your posts, I hadn't heard the word contronym prior to your blog. I love the idea, and have enjoyed having my awareness expanded through your blog this month. Enjoyed both the quantity and quality of this post!

SiouxsiesMusings

#AtoZChallenge

Submitted by Jocelyn Rish on April 20, 2013 - 4:19pm.

Lexa - I *think* quantum physicists study the small stuff. Loved "Quantum Leap" Oh boy!

Michelle - I think the title uses Quantum in a contronym way. Sam was studying the small stuff, but ended up using it to make a big leap. So both! :-)

Alex - Thanks! AndI feel especially sorry for people learning English as a second language.

J.L. - That's exactly what I said when I first learn about contronyms - that they were my new favorite things.

Susan - Bad Google! Thanks! I'm having a lot of fun with the theme, so I'm glad to hear others are enjoying it, too.