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Where does “contradiction” come from?

Contradiction comes from Old French contradiction, from Latin contradictio (a speaking against), derived from Latin contra (against) and the verbal noun suffix -tio, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to turn or speak.

contradiction (English): The act of contradicting; A statement that...

Definitions

  1. The act of contradicting; A statement that...

Ancestry of “contradiction”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchcontradiction—
2Latincontrādictiō—
3Latincontrādīcō—
4Latindīcō—
5Latin-tiō—
6Latindissertātiō—
7Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
8Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
9Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
10Latincalceusshoe
11Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
12Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “contradiction”

  • noncontradiction
  • contradictional
  • contradictionless
  • self-contradiction
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →