lucus a non lucendo

lu·cus a non lu·cen·do

ˈlükəˌsā¦nänlüˈsenˌdō

: an illogical explanation or absurd derivation : non sequitur

the whole discussion may seem a lucus a non lucendo for all the light it throws upon the effect of the classics on mediaeval literature—

H. O. Taylor

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, a grove from not being light; from the practice ascribed to ancient Roman etymologists of deriving words from their semantic opposites, as lucus ("grove") from lucēre ("to shine, be light") because a grove is not light

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Style

“Lucus a non lucendo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lucus%20a%20non%20lucendo. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

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