Kathryn Huxtable wrote:   
      
   > On 2010-09-13 16:30:56 -0500, Dan Dassow said:   
   >    
   >> On Sep 13, 1:09 pm, Kathryn Huxtable    
   >> wrote:   
   >>> [...]   
   >>> The "Holy Roman Empire". I think it was Voltaire who pointed out that   
   >>> it was neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire. There should be a word   
   >>> for such things... Maybe there is.   
   >>>    
   >>> -K-   
   >>    
   >> http://www.onelook.com/?loc=lemma&w=oxymoron   
   >>    
   >> The closest word I can think of is oxymoron, conjoining contradictory   
   >> terms (as in "`deafening silence"). However, that doesn't quite   
   >> capture the concept.   
   >>    
   >> http://www.onelook.com/?w=antiphrasis   
   >>    
   >> Another possibility is antiphrasis, the use of a word in a sense   
   >> opposite to its normal sense (especially in irony).   
   >    
   > Yes, but not quite right. There needs to be a word... I've thought this   
   > for years.   
      
   I'm tempted to suggest calling it "a duggy", but that might be seen as mean.     
   >:-)   
      
   --    
   Dave   
      
   Semper Gumby - always flexible.   
   --- SBBSecho 2.12-Win32   
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