Meaning of contradictio in adjecto | Babel Free

Definitions

contradiction in terms, oxymoron, self-contradiction

Medieval-Latin, New-Latin, declension-3

Equivalents

Examples

“Nam Homo mortuus, includit in se non viuum; Homo autem includit in se viuum: & ita sequitur contradictio in adiecto.”

For “dead man” encompasses not-living; “man”, however, encompasses living, and there thus follows a self-contradiction.

“Nam qui est stultus, quomodo ille potest dici ingeniosus & ad studia literarum aptus? Videtur enim esse contradictio in adjecto.”

For if someone is stupid, how can he be said to be ingenious and gifted in the study of letters? There seems, therefore, to be a self-contradiction.

CEFR level