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Absurd vs Abrupt - What's the difference?

absurd | abrupt |

In obsolete terms the difference between absurd and abrupt

is that absurd is an absurdity while abrupt is broken off.

As a verb abrupt is

to tear off or asunder.

absurd

English

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • Contrary to reason or propriety; obviously and flatly opposed to manifest truth; inconsistent with the plain dictates of common sense; logically contradictory; nonsensical; ridiculous; silly.
  • * 1591 , (William Shakespeare), , V-iv
  • This proffer is absurd and reasonless.
  • * ca. 1710 , (Alexander Pope)
  • This phrase absurd to call a villain great
  • * , chapter=17
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=“Perhaps it is because I have been excommunicated. It's absurd , but I feel like the Jackdaw of Rheims.” ¶ She winced and bowed her head. Each time that he spoke flippantly of the Church he caused her pain.}}
  • (obsolete) Inharmonious; dissonant.
  • Having no rational or orderly relationship to people's lives; meaningless; lacking order or value.
  • * (rfdate) Adults have condemned them to live in what must seem like an absurd universe. - Joseph Featherstone
  • Dealing with absurdism.
  • Usage notes

    * More and most absurd are the preferred or more common form of the comparable, as opposed to absurder and absurdest. * Among the synonyms: ** Irrational is the weakest, denoting that which is plainly inconsistent with the dictates of sound reason; as, an irrational course of life. ** Foolish rises higher, and implies either a perversion of that faculty, or an absolute weakness or fatuity of mind; as, foolish enterprises. ** Absurd rises still higher, denoting that which is plainly opposed to received notions of propriety and truth; as, an absurd man, project, opinion, story, argument, etc. ** Preposterous rises still higher, and supposes an absolute inversion'' in the order of things; or, in plain terms, a "putting of the cart before the horse;" as, a ''preposterous'' suggestion, ''preposterous'' conduct, a ''preposterous regulation or law.

    Synonyms

    * foolish, irrational, ridiculous, preposterous, inconsistent, incongruous, ludicrous * See also

    Derived terms

    * absurdly, absurdity * Absurdistan

    Noun

    (en noun) (Absurdism)
  • (obsolete) An absurdity.
  • (philosophy) The opposition between the human search for meaning in life and the inability to find any; the state or condition in which man exists in an irrational universe and his life has no meaning outside of his existence.
  • Usage notes

    * (philosophy) Absurd is sometimes preceded by the word the .

    Derived terms

    * theatre of the absurd

    References

    * * ----

    abrupt

    English

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • (obsolete, rare) Broken away (from restraint).
  • Without notice to prepare the mind for the event; sudden; hasty; unceremonious.
  • The party came to an abrupt end when the parents of our host arrived.
  • * (rfdate) (William Shakespeare), Henry VI Part I, II-iii
  • The cause of your abrupt departure.
  • Curt in manner; brusque; rude; uncivil; impolite.
  • Having sudden transitions from one subject or state to another; unconnected; disjointed.
  • * (rfdate) (Ben Jonson)
  • The abrupt style, which hath many breaches.
  • (obsolete) Broken off.
  • Extremely steep or craggy as if broken up; precipitous.
  • * (rfdate) (Thomson)
  • Tumbling through ricks abrupt .
  • (botany) Suddenly terminating, as if cut off; truncate.
  • (Gray)

    Synonyms

    * (precipitous) broken, rough, rugged * (without time to prepare) brusque, sudden * (uncivil)blunt, brusque * (without transition) disconnected, unexpected

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (archaic) To tear off or asunder.
  • * (rfdate) Sir T. (Browne)
  • Till death abrupts them.
  • To interrupt suddenly.
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • (poetic) Something which is ; an abyss.
  • * (rfdate) (Milton)
  • Over the vast abrupt .

    References

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