Converse (semantics)

In linguistics, converses or relational antonyms are pairs of words that refer to a relationship from opposite points of view, such as parent/child or borrow/lend. The relationship between such words is called a converse relation. Converses can be understood as a pair of words where one word implies a relationship between two objects, while the other implies the existence of the same relationship when the objects are reversed. Converses are sometimes referred to as complementary antonyms because an "either/or" relationship is present between them. One exists only because the other exists.

List of converse words

 * Own and belong are relational opposites i.e. "A owns B" is the same as "B belongs to A."
 * Win and lose i.e. if someone wins, someone must lose.
 * Fraction and whole i.e. if there is a fraction, there must be a whole.
 * Above and below
 * Employer and employee
 * Parent and child
 * Teacher and student
 * Buy and sell
 * East and west
 * Predator and prey
 * Lend and borrow
 * Offense and defense
 * Slave and master