When I am by myself, I'm negative.
Give me 2, and I'll read the same.
But if you halve me, I always seem surprised.
Tack on a cliff, and I become smarter.
A dreaded word I am...
What am I?
The answer is a single word.
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I think you are the word:
NO
When I am by myself, I'm negative.
The word NO is used to give a negative response.
Give me 2, and I'll read the same.
Add 2 letters (specifically, a K at the front and a W at the back) and you have the word KNOW, a homophone when read aloud.
But if you halve me, I always seem surprised.
Half of 'NO' is merely O, which sounds like 'oh', an expression of surprise.
Tack on a cliff, and I become smarter.
Add LEDGE (a cliff) and you have NOLEDGE or KNOWLEDGE, something which makes a person smarter.
A dreaded word I am...
People rarely wish to hear a response of 'NO' when they make a request or ask a question. Unless of course the question is "What is an abbreviation for 'number'?" or "Who was that Dr from the James Bond film...?"
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