Is there a more confusing word in English than "Bimonthly"

[Syringer]

Or biweekly?

Adjective: Occurring or produced twice a month or every two months.
Noun: A periodical produced twice a month or every two months.

How can the same word mean two completely different things?

 

[Drako]

Semiweekly?

 

[Drako]

Client: "OK, let's set up a meeting for every fortnight"
Me: "Is that semiweekly or bimonthly?"
Client: "Semimonthly"
Me: "..."

 

[preslove]

Client: "OK, let's set up a meeting for every fortnight"
Me: "Is that semiweekly or bimonthly?"
Client: "Semimonthly"
Me: "..."

Is that from something?

The first line is clear. Every two weeks.

 

[zinfamous]

How can the same word mean two completely different things?

this happens in plenty of languages. in fact, english is actually better about this than most other languages.

 

[Malak]

The toughest word in the English language is love.

 

[Drako]

Is that from something?

The first line is clear. Every two weeks.

It's from a meeting I had with a client of mine some years ago. I was unsure of what a fortnight was, and came back with that smart ass response - he responded in kind.

 

[ElFenix]

twice monthly is less confusing

 

[xanis]

I don't see how this is confusing.

If someone told me, "This group meets biweekly", I would know that the group meets twice per week. If the same person said, "Did you read the group's bimonthly?" I would know that he or she was referring to a periodical.

 

[Ms. DICKINSON]

gay, two or more definitions.

 

[preslove]

It's from a meeting I had with a client of mine some years ago. I was unsure of what a fortnight was, and came back with that smart ass response - he responded in kind.

Was he british? It's a pretty common word over there.

 

[dainthomas]

bimonthly is twice a month
semimonthly in every other month

I've never heard the first used to mean the second.

 

[Theb]

I've never heard bimonthly used to mean every two months. Maybe it's a regional thing?

 

[Drako]

Was he british? It's a pretty common word over there.

Hongkonger, so close enough .

After my awkward moment of silence, he just responded "Just schedule it every other Thursday."

 

[coldmeat]

The toughest word in the English language is love.

What is it?

 

[Evadman]

gay, two or more definitions.

I think that would be bi actually.

 

[her209]

No means no, unless it means yes.

 

[Cogman]

fortnight? Somehow the word "Fort" and "night" come together to mean. 2 weeks.

How about the word "read". Two meanings and pronunciations depending completely on context.
IE

I read a book last fall.
What book would you like to read?

 

[SViper]

I think that would be bi actually.

Zing!

 

[kranky]

How about "cleave" and "oversight" - they each have two meanings, and the meanings are completely opposite.

 

[Jeff7]

Inflammable.
Flammable.