Absurdisms

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A collection of absurd ideas or expressions that challenge conventional logic or reasoning
2. instances of behavior that highlight the irrationality of certain situations or beliefs
3. the use of nonsensical or ridiculous elements in art or literature to provoke thought or amusement

Etymology: The noun in question is built on the adjective "absurd," which entered English in the early 16th century from the Latin "absurdus." The Latin term itself combined "ab-" meaning "away from" and "surdus" meaning "deaf" or "dull," originally conveying something senseless or out of harmony with reason. The English adjective inherited this sense of something wildly unreasonable or illogical. From this adjective, the noun form "absurdism" was formed to describe a philosophical or artistic concept emphasizing the conflict between human tendencies to seek inherent meaning and the silent, indifferent universe. This term gained prominence in the 20th century, especially through existentialist and absurdist writers like Albert Camus and Samuel Beckett. The suffix "-ism" here marks it as a system of thought or ideology. The plural "absurdisms" naturally follows from the singular, referring to multiple instances, examples, or varieties of absurd ideas or philosophies. While the singular denotes the overarching concept, the plural can be used to discuss different manifestations or expressions of absurdity in thought, literature, or behavior. Thus, the word traces a path from a concrete Latin root implying dullness or lack of harmony to a rich philosophical term capturing the struggle to find meaning where none seems to exist, then branching out to refer to various specific absurd notions or styles.

Synonyms: nonsense, foolishness, ridiculousness, illogicality, incongruity