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Just curious but are there any two words (possibly three in a tri-relationship) in the English language that define themselves with the other, therefore being subjected to a definition paradox? (They have to have no other meanings besides the other word.)

e.g. (Not really a legit example, but what I am looking for) Compassion: The act of having pity. Pity: The act of having compassion.

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  • Many such pairs. Good/bad, right/left, dead/living, etc.
    – John Lawler
    Jul 23, 2014 at 19:01
  • I guess I was looking for an answer that gave you the following situation. You look up X in the dictionary and it directs you to Y so you look up Y in the dictionary and it directs you to X.
    – merp
    Jul 23, 2014 at 19:06
  • Some may work though...
    – merp
    Jul 23, 2014 at 19:07
  • That will depend very heavily on the dictionary, of course.
    – Matt Gutting
    Jul 23, 2014 at 19:19
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    My closing this as a duplicate of that rather strange question might look strange in turn, but bear with me here and do go read the (excellent) answer there. Executive summary: "words do not derive their meanings from the definitions in dictionaries". So at best, your question is an excercise in finding a particular dictionary from a particular year that uses particular words to define particular other words, for reasons entirely unspecified unless you happen to personally know its editor. Which of course is rather pointless, as you will agree.
    – RegDwigнt
    Jul 23, 2014 at 19:20

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