Did you know that the word oxymoron is itself an oxymoron? True story. First appearing circa 1657, the English noun was derived from the ancient Greek adjective oxymoros, and though the Greek means “markedly foolish,” it was formed from the roots oxys, which means “keen” (like the edge of a knife), and moros, which means “stupid.” So in an etymological sense, an oxymoron is a sharp dullard.
©2022 Michael R. Gates
