Words we only use in the negative

[Craig234]

I've noticed there are words we only use in the negative. The word "feckless" reminded me of this.

We never hear of "feck". There are quite a few examples of words like this. Other words, of course, have both versions, such as 'attractive' and 'unattractive'. I've never seen a list of the negative-only words, though, just run across examples.

So, I googled for this post.

"Reckless" is an example. He's careful, 'reckful'?

Disgruntled - for 'gruntle', you have to go back to 1400, coming from 'grunt'.

One bonus word: people are overwhelmed and underwhelmed, but when do you hear them whelmed?

 

[shortylickens]

Disheveled.

There is no way to be sheveled.

 

[sandorski]

Regardless. What's a Gard? Google offers various definitions that seem unrelated to each other from being related to "Garden", to a place in France, to being an old version of the Nordic word "Guard"....at east that's how it appears after a few minutes of "research".

 

[Platypus]

What's the deal with airline peanuts?

 

[randay]

discombobulate

 

[brianmanahan]

Regardless. What's a Gard? Google offers various definitions that seem unrelated to each other from being related to "Garden", to a place in France, to being an old version of the Nordic word "Guard"....at east that's how it appears after a few minutes of "research".

irregardless

 

[sandorski]

irregardless

no-re-gard-minus

 

[snoopy7548]

Cancer and disease are always used negatively. You would never say, "This disease is delicious."

 

[sandorski]

Cancer and disease are always used negatively. You would never say, "This disease is delicious."

You might, if you were Intelligent Bacteria.

 

[ElFenix]

I am very gruntled by this thread

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Regardless. What's a Gard? Google offers various definitions that seem unrelated to each other from being related to "Garden", to a place in France, to being an old version of the Nordic word "Guard"....at east that's how it appears after a few minutes of "research".

With regard to, without regard to.

 

[Craig234]

With regard to, without regard to.

You're right. "He has great regard for Bernie". "trump withheld the funds regardless of the law". I don't know the "gard" root in "regard". Google: "From Middle English regard, regarde, reguard, from Anglo-Norman reguard, from regarder, reguarder. Attested in Middle English starting around the mid 14th century. Compare guard, reward, guardian, and so on. "

 

[DigDog]

i found out not two weeks ago that "Egregious" means bad in english, while it still means good in .. just about anywhere else.
(it's a word like "terrific" that has since its origin flipped meaning, from "causing terror" to "really quite good"; except it only flipped meaning in ONE language, while the other root languages still use the original meaning)

 

[Amol S.]

Regardless. What's a Gard? Google offers various definitions that seem unrelated to each other from being related to "Garden", to a place in France, to being an old version of the Nordic word "Guard"....at east that's how it appears after a few minutes of "research".

communist
One can commun(e) to work.

 

[Eno Safirey]

To call out someone as uncouth is easily understood, but to refer to someone as being couth is confusing.
My sister is fond of referring to some people as couthless.

 

[dasherHampton]

Re-tarded.

What does tarded mean?

 

[BoomerD]

Re-tarded.

What does tarded mean?

I've known a bunch of 'tards in my life...when they get worse, they get retarded...

 

[ElFenix]

Re-tarded.

What does tarded mean?

 

[NoTine42]

I am whelmed by this thread.
(I realize there is an over- and under-)

 

[sdifox]

Niet

 

[nakedfrog]

Unpaired word - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[nakedfrog]

i found out not two weeks ago that "Egregious" means bad in english, while it still means good in .. just about anywhere else.
(it's a word like "terrific" that has since its origin flipped meaning, from "causing terror" to "really quite good"; except it only flipped meaning in ONE language, while the other root languages still use the original meaning)

Interesting.

egregious - Wiktionary

en.wiktionary.org

Usage notes
The negative meaning arose in the late 16th century, probably originating in sarcasm. Before that, it meant outstanding in a good way. Webster also gives “distinguished” as an archaic form, and notes that its present form often has an unpleasant connotation (for example, “an egregious error”). It generally precedes such epithets as ass, blunderer, rascal, and rogue. The Italian as well as Spanish cognate egregio has retained a strictly positive sense, as has the Portuguese cognate egrégio.

 

[snoopy7548]

How about ingrate? Is anybody grate?

 

[BurnItDwn]

I am nonplussed when trying to think about a good word here.

 

[Craig234]

How about ingrate? Is anybody grate?

Of course, they're grateful.