contradictio in adjecto

Latin

Etymology

Literally, “contradiction in what is qualified”, i.e., originally, a contradiction between a noun and a qualifying adjective.

Noun

contradictiō in adjectō f (genitive contradictiōnis in adjectō); third declension

1. (Medieval Latin, New Latin) contradiction in terms, oxymoron, self-contradiction
   • 1243 – 1316, Giles of Rome, In libros Aristotelis primum et secundum Perhiermenias; republished as In Porphyrij Isagogen, Aristotelis Categorias, et lib. Peri Hermenias […] absolutissima Commentaria, 1591, page 181:

     Nam Homo mortuus, includit in se non viuum; Homo autem includit in se viuum: & ita sequitur contradictio in adiecto.

     For “dead man” encompasses not-living; “man”, however, encompasses living, and there thus follows a self-contradiction.

   • 1656, Christian Matthiae, Theatrum historicum theoretico-practicum, in quo quatuor monarchiae […] , page 489:

     Nam qui est stultus, quomodo ille potest dici ingeniosus & ad studia literarum aptus? Videtur enim esse contradictio in adjecto.

     For if someone is stupid, how can he be said to be ingenious and gifted in the study of letters? There seems, therefore, to be a self-contradiction.