OXYMORON
Definition: a figure of speech that combines terms that usually contradicts each other in order to make a point.
Origin:
The word oxymoron is a combination of two Ancient Greek words:
1. "oxy" (Meaning pointed/sharp)
2. "moros" (Meaning dull/foolish)
Simple Examples:
In the first sentence, happy and pessimistic are two completely opposite emotions but it is still making a point.
Sophisticated Example:
O brawling love! O loving hate!
O anything of nothing first create!
O heavy lightness, serious vanity!
Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms!
Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health!
Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is!
This love feel I, that feel no love in this.
(Act 1, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet; c. 1597)
There are numerous oxymorons found in this passage such as: "brawling love", "loving hate", "anything out of nothing", "heavy lightness", "serious vanity", "Misshapen chaos", "feather of lead", "bright smoke", "cold fire", "sick health", "Still-waking sleep," and "This love feel I, that feel no love in this." All these examples contain words that are almost exact opposites of each other and yet, it still gets the point across.
Origin:
The word oxymoron is a combination of two Ancient Greek words:
1. "oxy" (Meaning pointed/sharp)
2. "moros" (Meaning dull/foolish)
Simple Examples:
- He was happy in his pessimism.
- It was a successful disaster.
- The officer admitted that is was a deliberate mistake.
In the first sentence, happy and pessimistic are two completely opposite emotions but it is still making a point.
Sophisticated Example:
O brawling love! O loving hate!
O anything of nothing first create!
O heavy lightness, serious vanity!
Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms!
Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health!
Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is!
This love feel I, that feel no love in this.
(Act 1, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet; c. 1597)
There are numerous oxymorons found in this passage such as: "brawling love", "loving hate", "anything out of nothing", "heavy lightness", "serious vanity", "Misshapen chaos", "feather of lead", "bright smoke", "cold fire", "sick health", "Still-waking sleep," and "This love feel I, that feel no love in this." All these examples contain words that are almost exact opposites of each other and yet, it still gets the point across.