Hypertext Webster Gateway: "preposterous"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Preposterous \Pre*pos"ter*ous\, a.[L. praeposterus; prae before
+ posterus coming after, latter. See {Posterior}.]
1. Having that first which ought to be last; inverted in
order. [Obs.]
The method I take may be censured as preposterous,
because I thus treat last of the antediluvian earth,
which was first in the order of nature. --Woodward.
2. Contrary to nature or reason; not adapted to the end;
utterly and glaringly foolish; unreasonably absurd;
perverted. ``Most preposterous conclusions.'' --Shak.
Preposterous ass, that never read so far! --Shak.
Syn: Absurd; perverted; wrong; irrational; foolish;
monstrous. See {Absurd}. -- {Pre*pos"ter*ous*ly}, adv.
-{Pre*pos"ter*ous*ness}, n.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
preposterous
adj : completely devoid of wisdom or good sense; "the absurd
excuse that the dog ate his homework"; "ask a
nonsensical question and get a nonsensical answer"; "a
contribution so small as to be laughable"; "it is
ludicrous to call a cottage a mansion"; "a preposterous
attempt to turn back the pages of history"; "her
conceited assumption of universal interest in her
rather dull children was ridiculous" [syn: {absurd}, {derisory},
{laughable}, {ludicrous}, {nonsensical}, {ridiculous}]
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