Oxymoron Definition
Other Word Forms of Oxymoron
Noun
Origin of Oxymoron
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First attested in the 17th century, noun use of 5th century Latin oxymōrum (adj), neut. nom. form of oxymōrus (adj), from Ancient Greek ὀξύμωρος (oxumōros), compound of ὀξύς (oxus, “sharp, keen") (English oxy-, as in oxygen) + μωρός (mōros, “dull, stupid") (English moron (“stupid person")). Literally “sharp-dull" or "keen-stupid", itself an oxymoron, hence autological; compare sophomore (literally “wise fool"), influenced by similar analysis. The compound form *ὀξύμωρον (oxumōron) is not found in the extant Ancient Greek sources.
From Wiktionary
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Greek oxumōron an expression that is witty because paradoxical from neuter of oxumōros pointedly foolish oxus sharp, keen oxygen mōros dull, foolish
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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