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Definition of preposterous - 4 dictionary results

pre⋅pos⋅ter⋅ous

  [pri-pos-ter-uhs, -truhs]
Use preposterous in a Sentence
–adjective
completely contrary to nature, reason, or common sense; absurd; senseless; utterly foolish: a preposterous tale.
Origin:
1535–45; < L praeposterus with the hinder part foremost. See pre-, posterior, -ous

Related forms:
pre⋅pos⋅ter⋅ous⋅ly, adverb
pre⋅pos⋅ter⋅ous⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
unreasonable, excessive, ridiculous. See absurd.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To preposterous
pre·pos·ter·ous   (prĭ-pŏs'tər-əs)   
adj.  Contrary to nature, reason, or common sense; absurd. See Synonyms at foolish.

[From Latin praeposterus, inverted, unseasonable : prae-, pre- + posterus, coming behind (from post, behind; see apo- in Indo-European roots).]
pre·pos'ter·ous·ly adv., pre·pos'ter·ous·ness n.
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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Preposterous

Pre*pos"ter*ous\, a.[L. praeposterus; prae before + posterus coming after, latter. See Posterior.]

1. Having that first which ought to be last; inverted in order. [Obs.]

The method I take may be censured as preposterous, because I thus treat last of the antediluvian earth, which was first in the order of nature. --Woodward.

2. Contrary to nature or reason; not adapted to the end; utterly and glaringly foolish; unreasonably absurd; perverted. "Most preposterous conclusions." --Shak.

Preposterous ass, that never read so far! --Shak.

Syn: Absurd; perverted; wrong; irrational; foolish; monstrous. See Absurd. -- Pre*pos"ter*ous*ly, adv. -Pre*pos"ter*ous*ness, n.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : preposterous
Spanish: absurdo, grotesco, caricaturesco, ridículo,
German: absurd,
Japanese: 途方もない
More Translations »

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, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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