A Conversation for Oddities of English

Other Odities

Post 1

Cadi Merchionamercheluned

Solving and dissolving both lead to a solution.

Flammable and inflammable mean the same thing.


Other Odities

Post 2

Researcher 191934

It's not the Fin(n)ish that counts, it's the Polish.


Other Odities

Post 3

gail-i-ab

Does anyone know why flammable and inflammable have the same meaning?


Other Odities

Post 4

Xenophile

'Inflammable' was the original word for easily set on fire. As English is so widely used nowadays, and there being much scope for confusion by non-expert speakers, 'flammable' is seen as a less confusing - therefore safer - alternative.

The normal opposite of both is 'non-flammable'.


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