absurd (abserd)

and n. [F. absurde = Sp. Pg. absurdo It. a urdo, E. surd, q. v.] I. a. 1. Being or acting contrary to common sense or sound judgment; inconsistent with common sense; ridiculous; nonsensical: as, an absurd statement; absurd conduct; an absurd fellow. There was created in the minds of many of these enthusiasts a pernicious and absurd a ociation between intellectual power and moral depravity. Macaulay , Moore's Byron. Specifically - 2. In logic or philos ., inconsistent with reason; logically contradictory; im II. n. An unreasonable person or thing; one who or that which is characterized by unreasonablene ; an absurdity. [Rare.] This arch absurd , that wit and fool delights. Pope , Dunciad, i. 221. absurdity (ab-sér'di-ti), n.; pl. absurdities (-tiz). [F. absurd ité Sp. absurd i dad =Pg. absurd i dade It. as surd ità, The absurdity involved in exacting an inexorable concealment from those who had nothing to reveal. De Quincey, E enes, ii. 2. That which is absurd; an absurd action, statement, argument, custom, etc.: as, the absurdities of men; your explanation involves a gro absurdity. And this absurdity for such it really is - we see every day-people attending to the difficult science of matters where the plain practice they quite let slip. M. Arnold , Literature and Dogma, xii. Syn. 1. Absurdne , silline , unreasonablene , self contradiction, preposterousne , inconsistency. See folly . absurdly (ab-serd'li), adv . In an absurd manner; in a manner inconsistent with reason or obvious propriety.