oxymoron

oxymoron
oxymoron
is derived from two Greek words opposed in meaning, oxus ‘sharp’ and moros ‘dull’ or ‘stupid’. It is a figure of speech in which two words of opposite meaning are brought together for special effect, e.g. a cheerful pessimist and harmonious discord. The name is properly used of a deliberate literary device, and should not be used to mean simply an accidental or casual contradiction in terms:

• ☒ Robert proves why it's no oxymoron to be known as a creative producer —Take One Magazine, 2003.

• ☒ The divide is between man-centered worship (surely an oxymoron) and God-centered worship —religious website, 2004 [OEC].

In neither of these sentences is there an oxymoron in the proper sense. The offence is even worse when the contradiction is not contained within a term at all:

• ☒ It seems like an oxymoron, but rock has benefited enormously from singers who really shouldn't have been singing —Pitchfork Media album reviews, 2004.

The word wanted here is paradox.

Modern English usage. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • oxymoron — [ ɔksimɔrɔ̃ ] n. m. • 1765; gr. oxumôron, de oxus « aigu » et môros « sot, fou » ♦ Rhét. Figure qui consiste à allier deux mots de sens contradictoires pour leur donner plus de force expressive (ex. Une douce violence; hâte toi lentement). On dit …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • oxymoron — (n.) 1650s, from Gk. oxymoron, noun use of neuter of oxymoros (adj.) pointedly foolish, from oxys sharp (see ACRID (Cf. acrid)) + moros stupid (see MORON (Cf. moron)). Rhetorical figure by which contradictory terms are conjoined so as to give… …   Etymology dictionary

  • oxymoron — [äk΄si môr′än΄] n. pl. oxymora [äk΄si mô′rə] [LGr oxymōron < neut. of oxymōros, acutely silly: see OXY 2 & MORON] a figure of speech in which opposite or contradictory ideas or terms are combined (Ex.: thunderous silence, sweet sorrow)… …   English World dictionary

  • Oxymoron — Ox y*mo ron, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ???, fr. ??? pointedly foolish; oxy s sharp + mwro s foolish.] (Rhet.) A figure in which an epithet of a contrary signification is added to a word; e. g., cruel kindness; laborious idleness. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Oxymōron — (gr.), ein scharfsinniger od. witziger Gedanke, der dem ersten Ansehen nach albern scheint, z.B. du schweigst, aber redest laut; od. ein witziger Contrast von widersprechenden Begriffen, z.B. süßer Schmerz, bitteres Vergnügen, eile mit Weile …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Oxymōron — (griech., »witzig dumm«), rhetorische Figur, bestehend in der sinnreichen Verbindung zweier sich scheinbar widersprechender Begriffe, z. B. ein beredtes Schweigen, geschäftiger Müßiggang …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Oxymoron — Oxymōron (grch.), spitzfindige Zusammenstellung von zwei sich scheinbar widersprechenden Begriffen (z.B. geschäftiger Müßiggang) …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • oxymoron — ► NOUN ▪ a figure of speech or expressed idea in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction (e.g. bittersweet). DERIVATIVES oxymoronic adjective. ORIGIN from Greek oxum ros pointedly foolish …   English terms dictionary

  • Oxymoron — This article is about the contradiction in terms. For the punk band, see Oxymoron (band). An oxymoron (plural oxymorons or oxymora) (from Greek ὀξύμωρον, sharp dull ) is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms. Oxymorons appear in a… …   Wikipedia

  • Oxymoron — Ein Oxymoron (griechisch οξύμωρος oxys ‚scharf(sinnig)‘ und moros ‚dumm‘; Mehrzahl: Oxymora) ist eine rhetorische Figur, bei der eine Formulierung aus zwei gegensätzlichen, einander (scheinbar) widersprechenden oder sich gegenseitig… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”