par|a|dox

par|a|dox
par|a|dox «PAR uh doks», noun.
1. a statement that may be true but seems to say two opposite things. “More haste, less speed,” and “The child is father to the man” are paradoxes.
2. a statement that is false because it says two opposite things: »

There is that glorious epicurean paradox...: “give us the luxuries of life, and we will dispense with its necessaries” (Oliver Wendell Holmes).

3. a person or thing that seems to be full of contradictions: »

Man is an embodied paradox, a bundle of contradictions (Charles Caleb Colton).

4. a statement contrary to received opinion or belief.
5. any inconsistent or contradictory fact, action, or condition: »

The Western Allies celebrated the World War II victory over Germany today with the paradox of embracing their old enemy as a new ally (New York Times).

╂[< Latin paradoxum < Greek parádoxon, neuter of parádoxos, adjective, contrary; noun, paradox < para- contrary to, aside + dóxa opinion < dokeîn to seem]
Usage See epigram for usage note. (Cf. ↑epigram)

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • par|a|dox|i|al — «PAR uh DOK see uhl», adjective. = paradoxical. (Cf. ↑paradoxical) …   Useful english dictionary

  • par´a|dox´i|cal|ness — par|a|dox|i|cal «PAR uh DOK suh kuhl», adjective. 1. of paradoxes; having to do with a paradox: »Comedians, paradoxical as it may seem, may be too natural (Charles Lamb). 2. having the habit of using paradoxes: »He was an external talker… …   Useful english dictionary

  • par´a|dox´i|cal|ly — par|a|dox|i|cal «PAR uh DOK suh kuhl», adjective. 1. of paradoxes; having to do with a paradox: »Comedians, paradoxical as it may seem, may be too natural (Charles Lamb). 2. having the habit of using paradoxes: »He was an external talker… …   Useful english dictionary

  • par|a|dox|i|cal — «PAR uh DOK suh kuhl», adjective. 1. of paradoxes; having to do with a paradox: »Comedians, paradoxical as it may seem, may be too natural (Charles Lamb). 2. having the habit of using paradoxes: »He was an external talker brilliant, various,… …   Useful english dictionary

  • par|a|dox|ist — «PAR uh DOK sihst», noun. a person given to paradoxes …   Useful english dictionary

  • par|a|dox|ure — «PAR uh DOKS yuhr», noun. = palm civet. (Cf. ↑palm civet) ╂[< New Latin Paradoxurus the typical genus < Greek parádoxos incredible + ourá tail (because of its appearance)] …   Useful english dictionary

  • par·a·dox — …   Useful english dictionary

  • par — par·ti striped; par·ti·ta; par·tite; par·ti·tion·al; par·ti·tioned; par·ti·tion·er; par·ti·tion·ing; par·ti·tion·ist; par·ti·tive·ly; par·ti·tur; par·ti·ver·sal; par·trick; par·tu·la; par·tu·ri·fa·cient; par·tu·ri·tion; par·ty·ism; par·u·la;… …   English syllables

  • dox — al·dox·ime; am·i·dox·ime; cla·dox·y·la·ce·ae; cla·dox·y·la·les; cla·dox·y·lon; da·dox·y·lon; dox·ic; dox·og·ra·pher; dox·o·log·i·cal; dox·ol·o·gize; dox·ol·o·gy; dox·yl·a·mine; eu·dox·ian; ham·a·mel·i·dox·y·lon; het·er·o·dox; in·dox·yl; mad·dox;… …   English syllables

  • Gérard Dox — Gérard Dou Gérard Dou Naissance 1613 Leyde Décès 1675 Leyde Nationalité …   Wikipédia en Français

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