surd

1 of 2

adjective

ˈsərd 

1

: lacking sense : irrational

surd conceits of scripture's sense

—Thomas Jackson

2

: voiceless

—used of speech sounds

surd

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: an irrational root (such as √3)

b

: irrational number

2

: a surd speech sound

Did you know?

Surd and Absurd

Both surd and its more common cousin absurd come from the Latin word surdus, meaning "unhearing, deaf, muffled, or dull." Absurd traveled through Middle French before arriving in English in the early 16th century. A few decades after its arrival, surd was adopted directly from Latin as a noun used in mathematical contexts to refer to an irrational root, such as √3. By the early 17th century surd had gained a more general application as an adjective describing something that is irrational or otherwise lacks sense, a meaning still in use:

While the grandparents might scratch their heads at the Star Wars references, the actors and perhaps some younger parents likely delighted in manic, jumbled and surd structure of the play.
—Patrick Clement, The Kiowa County Signal (Greensburg, Kansas), 23 Jan. 2013

The adjective surd also describes speech sounds that are not voiced—for example, the \p\ sound, as opposed to the voiced \b\.

Absurd is of course seen far more frequently. It stresses a lack of logical sense or harmonious agreement, of parts (such as a premise and a conclusion) not fitting together. In philosophy, it describes the problem of trying to distill meaning from one's experiences. In A Discourse on Novelty and Creation (1975), Carl R. Hausman writes, "There is an incongruity, an inconsistency, a conflict with a context that appears as lawful, orderly experience. As [Albert] Camus points out, absurdity 'springs from a comparison,' a comparison between two aspects of reality which seem to be out of harmony."

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin surdus deaf, silent, stupid

First Known Use

Adjective

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1557, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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