Not in "monopoly". The -poly part comes from a Greek verb meaning "to sell".IcyEvils said:Poly means multiple- e.g. Polymer (repeating structural units).
Monopoly is a greek word, mono coming from monos (single) and poly from polein (sell), so the meaning is "singleseller".IcyEvils said:Mono generally means singular- e.g. Monobrow (one eyebrow).eggy32 said:I'm not sure what my favorite is but Danny Ocean, how is monopoly an oxymoron?
Poly means multiple- e.g. Polymer (repeating structural units).
So it could be seen as one-many, or single-multiple. Oxymoron, see?
Buzz Killington said:Not in "monopoly". The -poly part comes from a Greek verb meaning "to sell".
My apologies, I always thought poly was more than one. Sorry!Femaref said:Monopoly is a greek word, mono coming from monos (single) and poly from polein (sell), so the meaning is "singleseller".
How are some of these oxymorons? A couple aren't really self-contradictory.Danny Ocean said:I love oxymorons!
Virtual reality
Open secret
Minor miracle
Non-alcoholic wine
Cardinal sin
Extensive briefing
Unbiased opinion
Family vacation
Good job
Almost exactly
Dodge Ram
Postal service
Constant change
Assistant supervisor
Black light
High ground
Half full
Crisis management
Ill health
Nothing much
Partially completed
Federal budget
Authentic replica
Random order
Small fortune
Wedded bliss
Legal brief
Student teacher
Steel wool
Public school education
Accurate horoscope
Real potential
Civil War
Job security
State worker
Half dead
Legally drunk
Exact estimate
Completely unfinished
New tradition
Act naturally
Found missing
Art student
Original copy
Resident alien
Genuine imitation
Airline food
Dry wine
Good grief
Government organization
Uninvited guest
Highly depressed
Final version
Sanitary landfill
Alone together
Small crowd
Live recording
Business ethics
Soft rock
Easy payments
Dry lake
Good beating
Cheerleading scholarship
Rock opera
Educational television
Bittersweet
Farewell reception
Deafening silence
Non-dairy creamer
War games
Death benefits
Clearly confused
Rolling stop
Safety hazard
Clearly misunderstood
Initial results
Friendly argument
Healthy tan
Cold sweat
Committee decision
Holy war
Peace force
Minor disaster
Home office
Extinct life
Armchair athletes
Christian Scientists
Random logic
Plastic glasses
Terribly pleased
Computer security
Political science
Tight slacks
Definite maybe
Pretty ugly
Rap music
Working vacation
Religious tolerance
IBM compatible
Microsoft Works
Athletic scholarship
Congressional ethics
Pretty ugly
Even odds
Great Depression
Terribly nice
Freezer burn
Journalistic integrity
Jumbo shrimp
Monopoly
Political promise
Religious intolerance
Same difference
Second best
Accordion music
Alone together
Dress pants
Work party
Military intelligence
Standard options
Sweet sorrow
Rural Metro (ambulance service)
Now, then
Passive aggression
Free love
If used as prefix (like in polymer), it means many.IcyEvils said:Buzz Killington said:Not in "monopoly". The -poly part comes from a Greek verb meaning "to sell".My apologies, I always thought poly was more than one. Sorry!Femaref said:Monopoly is a greek word, mono coming from monos (single) and poly from polein (sell), so the meaning is "singleseller".
Steel is hard, wool is soft.Irony said:French Military Victory(Just kidding)
How are some of these oxymorons? A couple aren't really self-contradictory.
Steel wool. Wool made of steel.
Great Depression. A depression can be both great and small.
Original copy. It is one of many copies, but this one is the original.
Don't mean to be to be a buzz kill, but I'm just saying. Some of these are pretty good. (Cheerleading scholarships, ha!)
Danny Ocean said:In this case Great is a reference to the size and impact. So it is not an oxymoron.Irony said:French Military Victory(Just kidding)
How are some of these oxymorons? A couple aren't really self-contradictory.
Steel wool. Wool made of steel.
Great Depression. A depression can be both great and small.
Original copy. It is one of many copies, but this one is the original.
Depressions are sad. It means 'great' as in 'WoO! That's great!'. It's like saying, "Boy, that sure was a great depression."
A week from now I'm going to wish I'd heeded this warning. Can't think of one myself right now but 'Microsoft Works' got a good chuckle out of me.J03bot said:Fun run.
To pad out my post, I'll point out that perhaps if you're a masochist, they're fun. Otherwise, they're tiring and/or painful. And involve running.