1
Stage 1 of 4
paradoxon
Greek · ancient
"contrary to opinion"
literally "contrary to expectation", from "para" (beyond) and "doxa" (opinion)
2
Stage 2 of 4
paradoxum
Latin · ancient
"a statement contrary to belief"
adopted through Greek rhetorical and philosophical tradition
3
Stage 3 of 4
paradoxe
French · medieval
"a seemingly contradictory statement"
carried the concept into French
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Stage 4 of 4
paradox
English · 1500s
"a statement that seems contradictory but may be true"
settled as the English word for a self-contradictory truth
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