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Words cancelling out each other?

  • 10-06-2005 6:33pm
    #1
    dlofnep
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,759 ✭✭✭✭


    What do you call it when two words cancel out each other, but not in a contradictory sense like an oxymoron?


Comments

  • #2
    Dizzyblabla
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,440 ✭✭✭Dizzyblabla


    a double negative?


  • #3
    dlofnep
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,759 ✭✭✭✭dlofnep


    No.. Not a double negative. It's a superfluous statement or word. Thanks anyways.


  • #4
    OfflerCrocGod
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,334 ✭✭✭OfflerCrocGod


    It's like "a skinny anorexic".....you're right that there is a word to describe the use of descriptive words which are superfluous but ARGGGHHH I can't remember, I think it begins with 'p' - or then again maybe not.

    /bangs head against wall. :rolleyes:


  • #5
    simu
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,730 ✭✭✭✭simu


    tautology?
    redundancy?


  • #6
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 93,552 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    what about prefixes as per - uninflamable


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  • #7
    dlofnep
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,759 ✭✭✭✭dlofnep


    OfflerCrocGod wrote:
    It's like "a skinny anorexic".....you're right that there is a word to describe the use of descriptive words which are superfluous but ARGGGHHH I can't remember, I think it begins with 'p' - or then again maybe not.

    /bangs head against wall. :rolleyes:

    Yeah, a skinny anorexic is a good example.. It's none of the words mentioned.. I don't know why it's annoying me so much but I just can't think of what it is.


  • #8
    simu
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,730 ✭✭✭✭simu


    dlofnep wrote:
    Yeah, a skinny anorexic is a good example.. It's none of the words mentioned.. I don't know why it's annoying me so much but I just can't think of what it is.

    It might be possible to have a skinny anorexic - they might have been force fed to fatness but still have an anorexic's thought patterns in their mind, for example.

    But yeah, still looking for that word.


  • #9
    simu
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,730 ✭✭✭✭simu


    Oh wait! Would it be pleonasm?

    http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=pleonasm

    /awaits rapturous applause


  • #10
    dlofnep
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,759 ✭✭✭✭dlofnep


    Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

    Simu wins.


  • #11
    Sapien
    Closed Accounts Posts: 997 ✭✭✭Sapien


    dlofnep wrote:
    What do you call it when two words cancel out each other, but not in a contradictory sense like an oxymoron?
    Could you have meant litotes?


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  • #12
    biko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,220 ✭✭✭✭biko


    Maybe perhaps "corollary" could fit too ;-)


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