In
linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. It is called a scientific study because it entails a comprehensive, systematic, objective, and precise analysis of all aspects of language, particularly its nature and structure. Linguis ...
, converses or relational antonyms are pairs of words that refer to a relationship from opposite points of view, such as ''parent/child'' or ''borrow/lend''.
The relationship between such words is called a converse relation.
Converses can be understood as a pair of words where one word implies a relationship between two objects, while the other implies the existence of the same relationship when the objects are reversed. Converses are sometimes referred to as complementary
antonyms because an "either/or" relationship is present between them. One exists only because the other exists.
List of converse words
* ''Own'' and ''belong'' are relational opposites i.e. "A owns B" is the same as "B belongs to A."
* ''Win'' and ''lose'' i.e. if someone wins, someone must lose.
* ''
Fraction
A fraction (from la, fractus, "broken") represents a part of a whole or, more generally, any number of equal parts. When spoken in everyday English, a fraction describes how many parts of a certain size there are, for example, one-half, eight ...
'' and ''whole'' i.e. if there is a fraction, there must be a whole.
* ''Above'' and ''below''
* ''Employer'' and ''employee''
* ''Parent'' and ''child''
* ''Teacher'' and ''student''
* ''Buy'' and ''sell''
* ''East'' and ''west''
* ''Husband'' and ''wife''
* ''Predator'' and ''prey''
* ''Lend'' and ''borrow''
* ''Offense'' and ''defense''
* ''Slave'' and ''master''
See also
*
Opposite (semantics)
In lexical semantics, opposites are words lying in an inherently incompatible binary relationship. For example, something that is ''long'' entails that it is not ''short''. It is referred to as a 'binary' relationship because there are two members ...
References
Semantics
Dichotomies
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