Words with complementary dual meanings

Appreciate

One meaning of “appreciate” is to recognize the good in something, while another is to increase in value. I love how this dual meaning suggests that we can make something more valuable simply by recognizing the value it already has.

Dedicate

This 2018 Harvard Commencement speech brought to light the dual meanings of “dedicate,” which means both “to make sacred” and “to devote significant time and energy to”. The crux of the speech is that by devoting ourselves to something we elevate its status in our lives. The common thread seems to be sacrifice, that by sacrificing our time to something, we elevate its place in our lives.