From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!npoiv!npois!houxm!5941ux!machaids!as Newsgroups: net.nlang Title: Re: words which mean their opposites Article-I.D.: machaids.231 Posted: Fri Jan 7 15:22:32 1983 Received: Sat Jan 8 05:05:10 1983 References: dciem.137 rabbit.1030 Bimonthly definitely isn't in the category of words that have two opposite meanings. It always means once every two months; only semimonthly means twice a month. The following usage note is quoted from the American Heritage Dictionary: "Bimonthly, in careful usage, means 'once in two months;' biweekly, 'once in two weeks;' and biyearly, 'once in two years.' They are not interchangeable with semimonthly, semiweekly, and semiyearly, which refer to occurrence twice a month, week, and year, respectively. A similar distinction exists between biennial (once in two years, lasting two years) and biannual (twice a year)." Abe Shliferstein, Bell Labs, Holmdel.