An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A statement, proposition, or situation that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality is or may be true. → Fermi paradox; → faint early Sun paradox; → twins paradox; → paradox of youth.

Etymology (EN): From L. paradoxum “contrary to expectation,” from Gk. paradoxon, from neuter of adj. paradoxos “contrary to common opinion, unbelievable,” from → para- “contrary to” + dox(a) “opinion, belief” + -os adj. suffix. The main component dox, from dokein “to appear, seem, think,” is cognate with Av. daēs- “to show;” Skt. diś- “to show, point out,” diśati “he shows;” L. dicere “to utter;” PIE base *deik- “to show, pronounce solemnly.”

Etymology (PE): Pârâdaxš (on the model of Gk. paradoxos), from pârâ-, → para-, + daxš, from Av. daxš- “to reveal, instruct, point out,” fradaxštar- “teacher,” *daxšārə “revelations;” Mod.Pers. daxš “task, effort;” cf. Skt. daks- “to be able,” dáksa- “able, expert.”