preposterous
UK /pɹɪˈpɒstəɹəs/ · US /pɹəˈpɑstəɹəs/ adjective
Forms præposterous
Synonyms
absurd foolish irrational nonsensical cockeyed derisory idiotic laughable ludicrous ridiculous
Etymology
From Latin praeposterus (“with the hinder part before, reversed, inverted, perverted”), from prae (“before”) + posterus (“coming after”).
Webster’s 1913
- Having that first which ought to be last; inverted in order.
- Contrary to nature or reason; not adapted to the end; utterly and glaringly foolish; unreasonably absurd; perverted. "Most preposterous conclusions." Shak.
Etymology [L. praeposterus; prae before + posterus coming after, latter. See Posterior.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “preposterous”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details