Absurd

• Post Eagle
• July 27, 2017
• Word Etymology
• 0 Comments

The word for today is – ABSURD – which comes from two Latin words – AB – meaning – FROM, and – SURDUS – meaning – DEAF. The dictionary defines absurd as that which is ridiculously incongruous or unreasonable.

The Latin word – ABSURDUS – is the source for this definition. However, this evolved from the word describing deafness. A deaf person cannot normally pronounce words. The Romans realized that they could not decipher the speech of a deaf person. To them it was babbling. Hence, the added meaning was attached to the word for deafness.