paradox English · revision 786

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpæɹ.əˌdɒks/ ''(UK)''; /ˈpæɹ.əˌdɑks/, /ˈpɛɹ.əˌdɑks/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|paradoxum|t=a statement seemingly absurd yet really true]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) partly through [[frm|paradoxe]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[der|grc|παράδοξον|tr=parádoxon]], the neuter of ''parádoxos'' “contrary to expectation, incredible”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) [[af|grc|παρά|δόξα|tr1=pará|tr2=dóxa|t1=contrary to, beyond|t2=opinion]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021) from ''dokeîn'' “to seem, think”.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A statement or belief contrary to received opinion, often implied to be marvellous or absurd (1540).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word at first carried notions of the absurd or fantastic.^(Etymonline) From 1569 it meant a statement that seems self-contradictory or absurd but may in fact be true,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and soon also one that is actually self-contradictory (1570).^(OED 1989) By 1589 it could mean a paradoxical quality,^(OED 1989) and in the 17th century a phenomenon or person with apparently contradictory aspects.^(Hoad 1986)^(AHD) In logic, a statement that leads from acceptable premises by sound reasoning to an illogical conclusion is recorded by 1903.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1540 – a statement contrary to received opinion.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1569 – a seemingly absurd but possibly true statement.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1570 – a self-contradictory statement.^(OED 1989)

+ * 17th century – a person or thing with contradictory aspects.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1903 – a paradox in logic.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A seemingly contradictory or absurd statement that may nonetheless be true.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A person, thing or situation with apparently contradictory or inexplicable aspects.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(logic)'' A statement or argument that leads by apparently valid reasoning from acceptable premises to a self-contradictory conclusion.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+ # A statement contrary to received opinion.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[paradoxical]]

+ * [[paradoxically]]

+ * [[paradoxicalness]]

+ * [[paradoxology]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[orthodox]]

+ * [[heterodox]]

+ * [[dogma]]

+ * [[doxology]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}