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Definition of Oxymoron
An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two contradictory terms or ideas are intentionally paired in order to make a point—particularly to reveal a deeper or hidden truth... read full definition
An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two contradictory terms or ideas are intentionally paired in order to make a point—particularly to reveal... read full definition
An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two contradictory terms or ideas are intentionally paired in order to... read full definition
Book 2: Of Their Towns, Particularly of Amaurote
Explanation and Analysis—Utopian Names:
Many of the names of Utopian towns and landmarks are oxymoronic, including the word "utopia" itself. Utopia is a country, yet the word utopia comes from the Greek meaning "no place." Utopia does not exist: it is a country, but its very name declares that it is imaginary. Similarly, "Anyder"—the name of the river in Utopia—closely translates to "no water," also from Greek. Raphael describes this river in Book Two:
"The Anyder rises in a small spring eighty miles above Amaurot, but other streams flow into it, two of them quite large, so that by the time it passes the city it is half a mile across."
Related Themes:
