ABSURD, ABSURDITY, ABSURDLY
also see RIDICULOUS
ADJECTIVES
1440 — DEAF absurd, dull, stupid → obs.
1492 — FRIVOL absurd, frivolous, paltry, flimsy → chiefly Sc., obs.
1526 — FURIOUS absurd, foolish → obs.
1622 — ABSONOUS absurd, incongruous, unreasonable → obs.
1639 — IMPERTINENT absurd, silly → obs.
1652 — ADOXAL absurd, not according to right reason; not based on reason → obs.
1790 — DAFT-LIKE absurd, foolish, dull-witted, mad → Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
1866 — LAPUTAN absurd, visionary, fanciful, preposterous, ridiculous, impossible
1887 — OUT OF ALL REASON quite absurd or incredible → Sc.
1896 — COCK-EYED absurd, ridiculous; topsy-turvy → UK sl.
1898 — FOND AS A BESOM apt to commit absurd mistakes → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
..20C — ARSE-WISE absurd, preposterous, ludicrous, wrong → colloq.
1930 — BALLSY absurd, ridiculous → sl.
1940 — MAD absurd → sl.
1960 — MADMEN absurd, crazy → sl.
1960 — JUNKY absurd, nonsensical → US sl.
1961 — RADGE absurd, foolish, silly; said of an idea or situation → sl.
1988 — OKEY-DOKE absurd; ridiculous → Amer. sl.
1990 — RADGY absurd, foolish, silly; said of an idea or situation → sl.
1993 — OKEY-DOKEY absurd; ridiculous → Amer. sl.
1996 — OBSOCKY of events: absurd, ridiculous → W. Indies sl.
2003 — BIZZURD absurd, bizarre → UK sl.
ADVERBS
1905 — OAFLY absurdly, foolishly → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1937 — DOTTILY absurdly, in an eccentric manner; crazily
NOUNS
1377 — A TALE OF WALTROT a piece of absurdity; an idle tale → obs.
1384 — BABERY grotesque absurdity; grotesque ornamentation in architecture and books → obs.
1450 — DELIRAMENT absurdity, delusion; an absurd, deluded, or irrational thought, remark, or action
1533 — TRIM-TRAM an absurd or silly device or practice; an absurdity; a piece of folly or nonsense → obs.
1569 — PARADOX an absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition, which investigation, analysis, or explanation may prove to be well-founded or true
1603 — IMPERTINENCES an absurdity, trifle, piece of folly something unsuitable, out of place, or irrational
1606 — ABSURDUM an absurd or illogical conclusion; also, an absurd state or condition
1606 — ADOX — ADOXE an absurdity → obs.
1610 — ABSURD an absurdity; an unreasonable thing, act, or statement → obs.
1669 — PUNCHINELLO an absurd or grotesque thing
1674 — TRAVESTY something perceived or characterized as an absurd, distorted, or inferior version of what it should be
1706 — MAGGOTRY absurdity, folly → obs.
1790 — QUOZ an absurd or queer thing
1831 — MEGRIM an absurd notion or fancy; a whim, fancy, caprice; generally in plural → Sc. & Eng. dial.
1906 — JUNK absurd or worthless ideas, talk, writing, etc.; nonsense → orig. & chiefly US
1916 — FURPHY an absurd story; a false report or rumour → Aust. sl.
NOUNS, PERSON
1400 — BABELAVANTE an absurd or foolish person → obs.
1597 — FANTASTICO an absurd and irrational person → obs.
1669 — PUNCHINELLO an absurd or grotesque person
1790 — QUOZ an absurd or queer person
1894 — ABSURDIST a person who behaves in an absurd or illogical manner
PHRASES
1822 — WHEN THE SKY FALLS WE SHALL CATCH LARKS a way of stating to a person that his scheme is absurd or ridiculous
1950 — THE MIND BOGGLES a comment on any marked absurdity → sl.
VERBS
1548 — MAKE AN ASS OF SOMEONE to cause someone to appear absurd or foolish
1605 — ASS to cause a person to appear absurd or foolish → obs.
..18C — BELIEVE THE MOON IS MADE OF CHEESE to believe firmly something absurd, astounding, or impossible → colloq.
..19C — PUT A ROPE TO THE EYE OF A NEEDLE to attempt the absurd or impossible
1809 — STULTIFY to reduce to absurdity or foolishness; to cause to be or appear foolish or ridiculous
1865 — MAKE WIMWAMS FOR WATER-WHEELS to do an absurd or ridiculous thing → Eng. dial.
1883 — ROAST SNOW IN A FURNACE to attempt the absurd or unnecessary; to act foolishly and to no purpose → sl.
1884 — TEACH A PIG TO PLAY ON THE FLUTE to attempt the absurd or impossible
1990 — TAKE THE PISS OUT OF to act absurdly, to play the fool → sl.