Challenge #01095-B363: But What Does it Mean?

Another sentence for SPoE(n): “Because of the agency’s oversight, the corporation’s behavior was sanctioned.” And other words that exemplify the "superiority" and "purity" of English: http://mentalfloss.com/article/57032/25-words-are-their-own-opposites -- RecklessPrudence

They had given Shayde a piece of paper preserved under glass. In a special room with careful lighting. Between the half-words on either side, an innocuous sentence.

Because of the agency’s oversight, the corporation’s behavior was sanctioned.

It was news print. The other side had some kind of ad that involved ripping off Bill Watterson's artwork. Beyond that, she couldn't tell what it was part of.

"Either it means that the corporation's behaviour was endorsed because of their supervision," said the SPOEn showing it to her, "Or it means that they were condemned because of their negligence. Can you tell us which meaning they were using?"

Another SPOEn in Archivaas robes murmured, "This has been a matter of some debate for three hundred standard years."

The poor lambs. Shayde didn't want to break their hearts. "I cannae tell ye fer sure, ye ken. But given the way corporations behaved in my day? I'm willin' tae bet they were condemned because o' negligence."

"Yes," whispered the Archivaas SPOEn.

"It's not confirmed," snipped the other SPOEn.

Shayde passed the relic back. Looks like it was going to be a matter of debate for another three hundred years.

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