Paradoxology
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 The use of paradoxes. obsolete, uncountable, usually
"the obscurity of the subject or unavoidable paradoxology must often put upon the attemptor[…]"
- 2 The study or contemplation of paradoxes. uncountable, usually
"Although whoever shall indifferently perpend the exceeding difficulty, which either the obscurity of the subject or unavoidable paradoxology must often put upon the attemptor, he will easily discern a work of this nature is not to be performed upon one legg; and should smell of oyle, if duly and deservedly handled ."
- 3 The embrace of a paradox, especially as it involves matters of faith. uncountable, usually
"This report excites the Medical Tribune to the profound remark that "the use of a sudorific to check sweating may seem paradoxical." If the Tribune and the Lancet could only recognize the existence of a principle in nature under which all disordered actions can be similarly relieved, their patients would have cause to sing a paradoxology."
Example
More examples"the obscurity of the subject or unavoidable paradoxology must often put upon the attemptor[…]"
Etymology
From paradox + -ology, first use appears c. 1646, in the writings of Thomas Browne.
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.