oxymoron

== English == === Etymology === First attested in the 17th century, noun use of 5th century Latin oxymōrum (adjective), neut. nom. form of oxymōrus (adjective), from Ancient Greek ὀξύμωρος (oxúmōros), compound of ὀξύς (oxús, “sharp, keen, pointed”) (English oxy-, as in oxygen) + μωρός (mōrós, “dull, stupid, foolish”) (English moron (“stupid person”)). Literally "sharp-dull", "keen-stupid", or "pointed-foolish" – itself an oxymoron, hence autological; compare sophomore (literally “wise fool”), influenced by similar analysis. The compound form ὀξύμωρον (oxúmōron) is not found in the extant Ancient Greek sources. === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /ɒksɪˈmɔːɹɒn/ (US) enPR: äk-sē-môrʹ-än, äk-sĭ-môrʹ-än, IPA(key): /ˌɑksiˈmɔɹɑn/, /ɑksɪˈmɔɹɑn/ === Noun === oxymoron (plural oxymorons or oxymora) (rhetoric) A figure of speech in which two words or phrases with opposing meanings are used together intentionally for effect. (loosely, sometimes proscribed) A contradiction in terms. ==== Usage notes ==== Historically, an oxymoron was "a paradox with a point". Its deliberate purpose was to underscore a point or to draw attention to a concealed point. The common vernacular use of oxymoron as simply a contradiction in terms is considered incorrect by some speakers and writers, and is perhaps best avoided in certain contexts. ==== Antonyms ==== pleonasm, redundancy ==== Derived terms ==== oxymoronic oxymoronically oxymoronicity oxymoronicness ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === See also === Category:English oxymorons contranym === References === === Further reading === Oxymoron on Wikipedia.Wikipedia “oxymoron”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. Lee’s Complete Oxymoron List, with discussion of classification (archive) == French == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ɔk.si.mɔ.ʁɔ̃/ === Noun === oxymoron m (plural oxymorons) alternative form of oxymore