preposterous

Meanings

• adjective

  contrary to reason or common sense; absurd

  - "The idea of a flying car is preposterous."
  - "His claim that he could run a marathon in under an hour is preposterous."

• adjective

  opposite in position or direction; reversed

  - "The preposterous position of the painting made it difficult to see."
  - "The preposterous ending to the novel took me by surprise."

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Pronunciation

1. 
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=90041528"

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Synonyms

absurd , foolish , irrational , nonsensical

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with preposterous
posterous , prestidigitatorious , obstinately yours

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Variants

List of all variants of preposterous that leads to same result
preposterous , preposterously , preposterousness , preposterousnesses

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Forms

Different forms of the word (e.g., verb conjugations, plural forms, comparative/superlative forms for adjectives).

preposterously, preposterousness

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

mid 16th century: from Latin præposterus 'standing before, prior', from præ- 'before' + ponere 'to place'.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The term 'preposterous' comes from the Latin word 'præposterus', which means 'standing before'. In medieval Latin, it was used to describe someone who was prior or senior in rank.

2. The word 'preposterous' has been used in various fields, from mathematics (where it refers to a function whose output depends on its input in a counterintuitive way) to psychology (where it refers to beliefs or ideas that are irrational or contrary to common sense).

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. absurdism: A philosophical and literary movement that emphasizes the absurdity and meaninglessness of life, often using preposterous situations to explore existential themes.

2. surrealism: An artistic movement that emphasizes the irrational and the preposterous, often using dreamlike imagery and unexpected juxtapositions.

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

The term 'preposterous' has been used extensively in literature and art to convey absurdity or reversal of expectations. For example, in Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night', Viola disguises herself as a man and falls in love with Duke Orsino, who is in love with Olivia, who falls in love with Viola in her disguise as a man. This complex web of mistaken identities and reversals of expectations is a preposterous situation.

How to Memorize "preposterous"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine a situation that is completely absurd or illogical. For example, imagine a tree growing in the middle of a basketball court.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'preposterous' with the image of a clown wearing mismatched shoes and a red nose. This can help you remember the absurdity and reversal of expectations associated with the word.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Create a mnemonic device by associating the word 'preposterous' with the phrase 'Peculiar Reversals Of Ordinary Situations Under Surprising Circumstances'.

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