Hypertext Webster Gateway: "preposterously"
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)
preposterously
adv : so as to arouse or deserve laughter; "her income was
laughably small, but she managed to live well" [syn: {laughably},
{ridiculously}, {ludicrously}]
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