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paradox

par·a·dox [ párrə dòks ] (plural par·a·dox·es)

noun

Definition:

1. something absurd or contradictory: a statement, proposition, or situation that seems to be absurd or contradictory, but in fact is or may be true

2. self-contradictory statement: a statement or proposition that contradicts itself

3. person of opposites: a person with seemingly self-contradictory qualities

[Mid-16th century. < Latin paradoxum< Greek paradoxos "contrary to opinion" < doxa "opinion" < dokein "think"]

par·a·dox·i·cal [ pàrrə dóksik'l ] adjective

par·a·dox·i·cal·ly adverb

par·a·dox·i·cal·ness [ pàrrə dóksik'lnəss ] noun

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