oxymoron etymology

Etymology:

  • Oxymoron: Derived from the Greek words "oxy" (sharp) and "moron" (dull).

Meaning:

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms to create a new meaning that is often unexpected or paradoxical.

Origin:

The term "oxymoron" was first used in the 16th century by the English rhetorician Henry Peacham in his book "The Garden of Eloquence." Peacham defined an oxymoron as "a figure which hath in it two contrary terms, the one destroying the other."

Examples:

  • "Deafening silence"
  • "Bittersweet"
  • "Living dead"
  • "Seriously funny"
  • "Act naturally"

Purpose:

Oximorons are used by writers and poets for various purposes, including:

  • Creating a striking or memorable image
  • Expressing complex emotions or ideas
  • Emphasizing a particular aspect of something
  • Adding humor or irony to a situation
  • Provoking thought and reflection

oxymoron relate terms

  • moratorium

    Etymology The word moratorium comes from the Latin word moratorius which means del

  • acacia

    Etymology Greek akakia Meaning Thorn tree Origin The word acacia comes fro

  • acanthus

    Etymology The word acanthus is derived from the Ancient Greek word ἄκανθος aka

  • accipiter

    Etymology The word accipiter comes from the Latin word accipere which means to tak

  • acer

    Etymology The word acer has its origins in the Latin word acer meaning sharp or po

  • acerbic

    Etymology Latin acerbus sharp bitter harsh Proto Indo European ak r sour sha

  • acerbity

    Etymology From Middle English acerbite from Old French acerbité from Latin acerbitās

  • acervate

    Etymology Latin acervus meaning heap or pile Proto Indo European ḱer meaning

  • acervulus

    Etymology Late Latin acervulus small heap Latin acervus heap pile Meaning

  • acescent

    Etymology Latin acescens entis present participle of acescere meaning to beco

  • acetic

    Etymology The word acetic comes from the Latin word acetum meaning vinegar Mean

  • acid

    Etymology The word acid comes from the Latin word acidus meaning sour This word i

  • acicular

    Etymology Latin acicularis needle shaped Latin acus needle Meaning Needl

  • acme

    Etymology The word acme comes from the Greek word ἀκμή akmē which means pe

  • acne

    Etymology Latin acne Greek ἀκμή akmē point acme full bloom Meaning

  • acrid

    Etymology The word acrid comes from the Late Latin word acris meaning sharp or

  • acridity

    Etymology Old French aigre sour sharp Latin acer sharp sour Proto Indo European

  • acrimony

    Etymology Late Latin acrimonia from acer sharp bitter Meaning A bitter har

  • acro

    Etymology The word acro is derived from the Greek word ἄκρα akra which means

  • acrobat

    Etymology The word acrobat comes from the Greek word akrobatēs ακροβάτης

  • acromegaly

    Etymology and Meaning The word acromegaly is derived from Greek ἄκρος akros

  • acronym

    Acronym Etymology From Greek akron topmost and onyma name Meaning A word

  • acrophobia

    Etymology Acro Greek high Phobia Greek fear Meaning Acrophobia is an int

  • acropolis

    Etymology Greek ακρόπολις akropolis Meaning and Origin The word acropo

  • acrostic

    A Crostic derives from the Greek words ἄκρος ákros top and στίχος stíc

  • acrylic

    Etymology Acrylic is derived from the Greek word akros meaning tip or point Me

  • acuity

    Etymology Acuity comes from the Latin word acutus meaning sharp or pointed Mea

  • aculeate

    Etymology Latin aculeatus from aculeus meaning sting or thorn Meaning Having

  • acumen

    Etymology Latin acumen sharp point keenness of mind Proto Indo European ak sha

  • acupressure

    Etymology The word acupressure is derived from two Latin words acus meaning needl

  • acupuncture

    Etymology Origin of the Word Acupuncture is derived from the Latin words acus

  • acute

    Etymology Derived from the Latin word acutus meaning sharp pointed or keen Me

  • aglet

    Etymology Aglet is derived from Medieval Latin aguleta meaning lace tag It is b

  • ague

    Etymology From Middle English ague from Old French aigue from Latin acuta febris lite

  • Akron

    Etymology The name Akron is of Greek origin deriving from the word akros meaning

  • anoxic

    Etymology The word anoxic comes from two Greek words an ἀν meaning without

  • coelacanth

    Etymology Coelacanth is derived from the Greek words koilos meaning hollow or cav

  • deoxy

    Etymology The word deoxy comes from the Greek roots de meaning lacking or witho

  • eager

    Etymology The word eager comes from the Middle English word egre meaning sharp s

  • edge

    Etymology Old English ecg meaning border boundary brink Middle English egge

  • eglantine

    Etymology Late Latin eglantine Old French eglantine Occitan eglantier Vulgar Latin

  • epoxy

    Etymology Greek ἐπ epi on ὀξυς oxys sharp Meaning A resinous

  • ester

    Etymology The word ester is derived from the German word Essigäther meaning vinega

  • exacerbation

    Etymology Latin exacerbāre irritate stimulate from ex out acerbāre make b

  • hammer

    Etymology The word hammer comes from the Old English word hamer which is derived fr

  • hypoxia

    Etymology Hypo Greek under oxia Greek lack of oxygen Meaning Hypoxia refers t

  • mediocre

    Etymology The word mediocre originates from the Latin word mediocris which means h

  • oxalic

    Etymology Old English oxilic Greek oxys sharp sour alis relating to M

  • oxide

    Etymology The word oxide is derived from the Greek word oxys which means sharp or

  • oxygen

    Etymology The word oxygen is derived from the Greek roots ὀξύς oxys meanin

  • oxymoron

    Etymology Oxymoron Derived from the Greek words oxy sharp and moron dull Me

  • paragon

    Etymology New Latin from Greek parágōnos beside by along from para along besi

  • pyracanth

    Etymology The word pyracanth is derived from the Greek words pyr πῦρ meaning

  • paroxysm

    Etymology Greek paroxyśmos spasmodic fit from paroxynein to provoke irritate fr

  • selvage

  • vinegar

    Etymology The word vinegar originates from the Middle French word vinaigre which its

  • trope

    Etymology The term trope originates from the Greek word tropos which means turn o

  • Porte

    Etymology The word porte comes from the French word porte which in turn comes from

  • image

    Etymology The word image comes from the Latin word imago which in turn comes from th

  • figure

    Etymology The word figure comes from the Latin word figura which means shape for

  • orchid

    Etymology of Orchid The word orchid originates from the Greek word orchis which me

  • soccer

    Etymology of Soccer The word soccer is a shortened form of Association Football w

  • emanation

    Etymology Late Latin emanatio flowing forth emanation Latin emanare to flow forth

  • forsake

    Etymology Old English forsacan Proto Germanic fursakaną Proto Indo European pre sk

  • compromise

    Etymology Late Middle English from Old French compromis from Latin compromissum from

  • pomp

    Etymology Latin pompa meaning procession parade Meaning A grand elaborate o