Surdity
/ˈsɜːr.dɪ.ti/noun
The quality of being irrational, absurd, or deaf to reason.
Did you know?Its root is Latin *surdus*, meaning “deaf” or “mute,” and that same ancient source also gave English the mathematical term *surd* for an irrational number—something “deaf” to exact expression.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
surdus
“deaf, mute, or dull of hearing”
Late Latin
Latin
absurdus
“out of tune, harsh-sounding, unreasonable”
Middle English
English
absurde
“contrary to reason; ridiculous”
16th Century
English
surd
“deaf; later, an irrational number in mathematics”
18th Century
English
surdity
“the state of being absurd or irrational”
Modern English
English
surdity
“the quality of being absurd or irrational”