I don’t understand the word sanction. Or rather, I understand the word, but don’t understand why there are seemingly two conflicting meanings. As a verb, it means to approve – as in an officially sanctioned tournament. As a noun, it means to disapprove – as in we don’t want Iran making nuclear weapons so we impose sanctions on them. Am I the only one who is vexed by this? I think we should get some impose some sanctioned sanctions on whoever came up with these definitions.