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absurdity

 - 3 dictionary results

ab⋅surd⋅i⋅ty

  [ab-sur-di-tee, -zur-]
Use absurdity in a Sentence
–noun, plural -ties.
1. the state or quality of being absurd.
2. something absurd.
Origin:
1425–75; late ME absurdite (< MF) < LL absurditās. See absurd, -ity
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ab·surd   (əb-sûrd', -zûrd')   
adj.  

  1. Ridiculously incongruous or unreasonable. See Synonyms at foolish.

  2. Of, relating to, or manifesting the view that there is no order or value in human life or in the universe.

  3. Of or relating to absurdism or the absurd.

n.  The condition or state in which humans exist in a meaningless, irrational universe wherein people's lives have no purpose or meaning. Used chiefly with the.

[Latin absurdus, out of tune, absurd : ab-, intensive pref.; see ab-1 + surdus, deaf, muffled.]
ab·surd'i·ty (-sûr'dĭ-tē, -zûr'-), ab·surd'ness n., ab·surd'ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

absurdity 
1528, from M.Fr. absurdité, from L. absurditatem (nom. absurditas) "dissonance, incongruity," from absurdus "out of tune, senseless," from ab- intens. prefix + surdus "dull, deaf, mute" (see susurration). The main modern sense is a fig. one, "out of harmony with reason or propriety."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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