pre·pos·ter·ous

[pri-pos-ter-uhs, -truhs]
adjective
completely contrary to nature, reason, or common sense; absurd; senseless; utterly foolish: a preposterous tale.

Origin:
1535–45; < Latin praeposterus with the hinder part foremost. See pre-, posterior, -ous

pre·pos·ter·ous·ly, adverb
pre·pos·ter·ous·ness, noun
un·pre·pos·ter·ous, adjective
un·pre·pos·ter·ous·ly, adverb
un·pre·pos·ter·ous·ness, noun


unreasonable, excessive, ridiculous. See absurd.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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World English Dictionary
preposterous (prɪˈpɒstərəs) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
contrary to nature, reason, or sense; absurd; ridiculous
 
[C16: from Latin praeposterus reversed, from prae in front, before + posterus following]
 
pre'posterously
 
adv
 
pre'posterousness
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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00:10
Preposterous is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

preposterous
c.1540, from L. præposterus "absurd, contrary to nature," lit. "before-behind" (cf. topsy-turvy, cart before the horse), from præ "before" + posterus "subsequent."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
The idea was so preposterous I hesitated to dignify it with a disclaimer.
They have come up with one so preposterous they might have been better off
  simply issuing a decree.
Fatal end to a preposterous storyline, plot and premise right there.
In a government possessed of enumerated powers, such a measure would he not
  only unnecessary, but preposterous and dangerous.
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