The word antigram is a portmanteau of the words ANTONYM (opposite meaning) and ANAGRAM (a word created with the letters of another). Antigrams and anagrams are an intellectual way to exercise your vocabulary skills.
Antigrams are a little trickier because they must create another word or phrase with the opposite meaning of the original word or phrase.
Examples of ANAGRAMS would include:
CINEMA and ICEMAN
STATUE OF LIBERTY and BUILT TO STAY FREE
THE MORSE CODE and HERE COME DOTS
MONASTERIES and AMEN STORIES
SIGNATURE and A TRUE SIGN
Examples of ANTIGRAMS would include:
SANTA and SATAN
A VOLUNTEER FIREMAN and I NEVER RUN TO FLAME
ANTAGONIST and NOT AGAINST
COMMENDATION and AIM TO CONDEMN
DIPLOMACY and MAD POLICY
Amarite is a non-word that is working its way to common use because of texting and abbreviated slang usage.
When I hear amarite I am reminded of gold mining shows where someone will jokingly say: “I think you found some leverite. You know ‘leave-her-right’ here because she is worthless.”
Amarite is a slang variant of the words or phrase “Am I right?” It is a question used to get approval or agreement at the end of another statement.
“My dog is lucky because he has his own heated and air-conditioned doghouse. Amarite?”
Some who use this slang do so because they seek approval or solidarity with others when they lack conviction in their words. When texting or emailing, amarite has become a handy abbreviation. The danger is that it might become a part of our language when, like many slang terms, it is nothing more than laziness.
“I thought the test was easy and I aced it like everyone else, amarite?”
“My wife is the luckiest woman on earth, amirite?”
“College admissions essays are exercises in futility, amirite?”
Closely aligned with this misuse is the overuse of the word “right.” Watch on news shows how often a person will say “right” to either presuppose or reinforce their position when, in fact, they are forcing the interviewer to agree with them or presuming agreement or accuracy.
“The market must go up from here because everyone knows the FED will lower rates, right?”
“It is a proven fact that black solar panels do not raise the air temperature, right?”
This abuse has become so pervasive that the speaker might as well use “amarite.”
