Illogicalnesses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality or state of being contrary to reason or logic
2. Instances or examples exhibiting a lack of rational thought or coherence
3. The existence of beliefs or arguments that are not supported by sound reasoning

Etymology: The term at hand is a noun formed by the addition of suffixes to the adjective "illogical." The root word "illogical" itself comes from the prefix "il-" (a variant of "in-," meaning "not") attached to "logical," which derives from the Greek "logikos," relating to reasoning or speech. This builds a meaning of "not logical," or lacking sound reasoning. The suffix "-ness" is a common English noun-forming element that transforms adjectives into abstract nouns expressing a state or quality. Adding "-ness" to "illogical" creates "illogicalness," denoting the quality or state of being illogical. Since "-ness" can be pluralized, the form "illogicalnesses" appears as the plural of this abstract noun, though it is quite rare and somewhat cumbersome in usage. This layered construction illustrates English’s flexibility in forming new words by stacking affixes. The word likely emerged through natural morphological processes rather than a single moment of coinage. Its components, however, trace back centuries: "logic" entered English in the late Middle Ages from Latin and Greek, "il-" as a negation prefix has been part of English since Old English times, and "-ness" has been productive since Old English. While the word’s meaning is straightforward—the plural of the state of being illogical—its complexity and length make it more a curiosity or linguistic example than a term frequently employed in everyday language. It demonstrates how English can create intricate forms to express nuanced ideas, even if such forms are seldom used.

Synonyms: irrationalities, fallacies, absurdities, inconsistencies, errors

Antonyms: logic, rationality, reason, sense, coherence