Widersinn

German

Etymology

From wider- +‎ Sinn.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈviːdəʁˌzɪn/, [ˈviːdɐˌzɪn]

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

  (file)

Noun

Widersinn m (strong, genitive Widersinnes or Widersinns, no plural)

1. misinterpretation, countersense
2. inconsistency, contradiction
3. nonsense, absurdity
   • 1905, Sigmund Freud, “Der Witz und seine Beziehung zum Unbewussten”, in Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious, page 45:

     Hat die Verwendung des Widersinnes in der Witztechnik jedesmal diese Bedeutung?

     Does the use of absurdity in joke technique always have this significance?

Declension

Declension of Widersinn [sg-only, masculine, strong]

	singular
	indef.	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Widersinn
genitive	eines	des	Widersinnes, Widersinns
dative	einem	dem	Widersinn, Widersinne1
accusative	einen	den	Widersinn

¹Now rare, see notes.

Synonyms

• Widerspruch
• Unsinn

Derived terms

• widersinnig

Further reading

• “Widersinn” in Duden online