ABSURDLY

absurdly

(adverb) in an absurd manner or to an absurd degree; “an absurdly rich young woman”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adverb

absurdly (comparative more absurdly, superlative most absurdly)

In an absurd fashion. [First attested in the mid 16th century.]

To an extreme degree. [First attested in the mid 16th century.]

Source: Wiktionary


Ab*surd"ly, adv.

Definition: In an absurd manner.

ABSURD

Ab*surd", a. Etym: [L. absurdus harsh-sounding; ab + (prob) a derivative fr. a root svar to sound; not connected with surd: cf. F. absurde. See Syringe.]

Definition: Contrary to reason or propriety; obviously and fiatly opposed to manifest truth; inconsistent with the plain dictates of common sense; logically contradictory; nonsensical; ridiculous; as, an absurd person, an absurd opinion; an absurd dream. This proffer is absurd and reasonless. Shak. 'This phrase absurd to call a villain great. Pope. p. 9

Syn.

– Foolish; irrational; ridiculous; preposterous; inconsistent; incongruous.

– Absurd, Irrational, Foolish, Preposterous. Of these terms, irrational is the weakest, denoting that which is plainly inconsistent with the dictates of sound reason; as, an irrational course of life. Foolish rises higher, and implies either a perversion of that faculty, or an absolute weakness or fatuity of mind; as, foolish enterprises. Absurd rises still higher, denoting that which is plainly opposed to received notions of propriety and truth; as, an absurd man, project, opinion, story, argument, etc. Preposterous rises still higher, and supposes an absolute inversion in the order of things; or, in plain terms, a "putting of the cart before the horse;" as, a preposterous suggestion, preposterous conduct, a preposterous regulation or law.

Ab*surd", n.

Definition: An absurdity. [Obs.] Pope.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

3 February 2025

CRAZY

(adjective) possessed by inordinate excitement; “the crowd went crazy”; “was crazy to try his new bicycle”


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Coffee Trivia

In 1884, Angelo Moriondo of Turin, Italy, demonstrated the first working example of an espresso machine.

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