abs trin get (abstrinj)

t. [ abstrude (ab-ströd'), v. t.; pret. and pp. ab struded, ppr. abstruding. [ Hidden in the most abstruse dungeons of Barbary. Shelton , tr. of Don Quixote, I. iv. 15. abthanage po ible: as, that the whole is le than the sum of its parts is an absurd proposition; an absurd hypothesis. It would be absurd to measure with a variable standard. H. Spencer , Social Statics, p. 44. = Syn. Absurd, Silly, Foolish, Stupid, Irrational, Un reasonable, Preposterous, Infatuated, ridiculous, non sensical, sensele , incongruous, unwise, ill-judged, ill foolish.) absurd, and preposterous imply a contradiction of common sense, rising in degree from foolish, which is commonly applied where the contradiction is small or trivial. That which is foolish is by weakne of mind, and characterize that which silly is still weaker, and more contemptible in its lack of sense; silly is the extreme in that direction. That which is absurd does not directly suggest weakne of mind, but it is glaringly opposed to common sense and reason: as, that a thing should be unequal to itself is absurd. That which is preposterous is the height of absurdity, an absurdity as conspicuous as getting a thing wrong side before; it excites amazement that any one should be capable of such an extreme of foolishne . That which is irrational is contrary to reason, but not especially to common sense. Unreasonable is more often used of the relation of men to each other; it implies le discredit to the understanding, but more to the will, indicating an unwillingne to conform to reason. Irra tional ideas, conclusions; unreasonable demands, a umptions, people. An infatuated person is so po e ed by a misleading idea or pa ion that his thoughts and conduct are controlled by it and turned into folly. He who is stupid appears to have little intelligence; that which is stupid is that which would be natural in a person whose powers of reasoning are defective or suspended. IMG:content-0097.png:[blocks in formation] From most silly novels we can at least extract a laugh; but those of the modern-antique school have a ponderous, a leaden kind of fatuity, under which we groan. George Eliot , Silly Novels. How wayward is this foolish love! Shak ., T. G. of V., i. 2. A man who cannot write with wit on a proper subject is dull and stupid. Add is on, Spectator, No. 291. The brave man is not he who feels no fear, For that were stupid and irrational . Joanna Baillie, Basil. She entertained many unreasonable prejudices against him, before she was acquainted with his personal worth. Add is on , Though the error be easily fallen into, it is manifestly 18. Taylor. The people are so infatuated that, if a cow falls sick, it is ten to one but an old woman is clapt up in prison for it. Add is on , Travels in Italy. lative intellects. Faiths of the World , p. 349. abstrusely (ab-strös'li), adv. In an abstruse or recondite manner; in a manner not to be easily understood. abstrusene (ab-strös'nes), n. The state or quality of being abstruse, or difficult to be understood; difficulty of apprehension. abstrusion (ab-ströʻzhon), n. [ L.abstrusio (n-), a removing, a concealing, Matters of difficulty and such which were not without abstrusities . Sir T. Browne , Vulg. Err., vii. 13.