Are there any commentaries that refer to the word "Shanah" being an antagonym?

Question

The Hebrew word שנה has several meanings. It means "year", "to review / repeat" (as it usage in the term, משנה תורה and it also means "to change". Thus, it is an antagonym.

With Rosh Hashanna approaching, I'm curious if there are any commentaries or writings (ancient or more recent) that discuss these opposite meanings and how they may relate to the concept of Teshuva and how one should behave at the start of the new year.

For example, if one is to supposed to change his behavior, how does he do this by "repeating" it? Or, does the definition of "year" include both the concept of repetition as well as change and in what ways?

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Surmisal: Every change involves repeating something from the past. The word "new" has several nuances, but, the main idea behind "new" is that it is something that previously never existed. Perhaps, this is the reason why Rosh Hodesh is not mentioned as part of Rosh Hashanna. "Hodesh" means "new". Perhaps, each month (except Rosh Hashanna), one should be creating something absolutely new. On Rosh Hashanna, we shouldn't create something "new" but, rather, we should change things by refining the past.

Answer 1

I share with you this short teaching called "A Blessing for the New Year" from Reb Zalman z”l.

"There is a paradox in the word שָׁנָה shanah, of Shanah Tovah and Rosh HaShanah. שָׁנָה Shanah in Hebrew carries two meanings. It has the sense of repeating, doing again a second time, sheini, and in this sense it is used in Mishnah, the laws repeated by heart, and also in the sense of which the fifth book of Moses is called Mishneh Torah, the repeating of the Torah (by Moses before his death). However it also has the sense of change, l’shanot, to make other – and here, too, is the sense of ‘two-ness,’ a second one that is different than the first. In Yiddish the same phrase with different inflections means the opposite. היינט אזוי – מארגען אזוי “Today like this; Tomorrow like this,” can mean “Today like this > and also Tomorrow like this >” and it can mean “Today like this >” (pointing to the right) and “Tomorrow like this <” (pointing to the left). It thus has the possibility of being read both ways: repeat or change. For those parts of your life that were good last year and that want to be repeated, I bless you with Shanah Tovah, have a good repeat. And for those things that need change, Shanah Tovah, have a good change!"