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oxymoron

oxymoron [ óksi máw ron, óksi máwrən ] (plural oxymora [ óksi máwrə ] or oxymorons)


noun 
Definition:
 
expression with contradictory words: a phrase in which two words of contradictory meaning are used together for special effect, e.g. 'wise fool' or 'legal murder'

[Mid-17th century. < Greek oxumōron, form of oxumōros< oxus 'sharp' + mōros 'foolish']
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