OXYMORON, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Acute fatuum aut stulte •cutum, subtil•y fool•sh; derived from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, [oxy] acumen. sharpnesse of wit, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, [mores] stultus, a fool.
Page 118It is a sentence delivered with such affectati∣on of wit and gravity as renders it ridiculous.
A figure when the same thing is denyed of it self, or when a contrary Epithet is added to a∣ny word.
By this figure contraries are acutely and dis∣creetly reconciled or joyned together, whence it comes to pass that at first sight that seems to be spoken foolishly, which afterwards is ac∣knowledged to have been hidden under a nota∣ble and excellent witinesse.
Avara luxuries. Id aliquid nihil est.
Vivum cadaver. Innumeri numeri.
Cum taceut, clamant.
Si tacent, satis dicunt.
Sapiens stultus qui sapere sibi egregie videtur.
Cum ratione insanit.
Vita minime vitalis.
Nunquam se minus otiosum esse, quam cum oti∣osus; nec minus solum, quam cum solus esset.
English Examples of Oxymoron.
If they are silent they say enough.
That something is nothing.
A man and no man, seeing and not seeing, in the light and not in the light, with a stone and no stone, struck a bird and no bird, sit∣ting and not sitting, upon a tree and no tree.
This is spoken of Androgeus the Eunuch, who being purblinde, struck a bat in the twilight with a pumice stone sitting upon a Mustard∣tree.
Page 119A wanton modesty. Froud humility.
Knowing ignorance.
A numberlesse number.
Scriptural Examples.
Job 22.6. Thou hast stripped the naked of their cloathing: He that is naked cannot be stripp'd or spoyled of his clothes; but the word naked, here signifies male vestitum, ill or poor∣ly clad, &c.
Jer. 22.19. He shall be buried with the bu∣rial of an Ass, drawn and cast forth, &c. (i.e.) he shall have no burial.
1 Tim. 5.6. But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
See Act. 5.41, &c. Isa. 58.10.
