n.1 a a seemingly absurd or contradictory statement, even if actually well-founded. b a self-contradictory or essentially absurd statement.
2 a person or thing conflicting with a preconceived notion of what is reasonable or possible.
3 a paradoxical quality or character.
Etymology: orig. a statement contrary to accepted opinion, f. LL paradoxum f. Gk paradoxon neut. adj. (as PARA-(1), doxa opinion)