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What is "antiphrasis"

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antiphrasis
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Antiphrasis

Antiphrasis \An*tiph"ra*sis\, n. [L., fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to express by antithesis or negation.] (Rhet.) The use of words in a sense opposite to their proper meaning; as when a court of justice is called a court of vengeance.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
antiphrasis

1530s, from Latin antiphrasis, from Greek antiphrasis, from antiphrazein "to express (something) by the opposite," from anti- (see anti-) + phrazein "to consider, to express" (see phrase (n.)).

Wiktionary
antiphrasis

n. (context rhetoric English) Use of a word or phrase in a sense not in accord with its literal meaning, especially for ironic or humorous effect

WordNet
antiphrasis

n. the use of a word in a sense opposite to its normal sense (especially in irony)

Usage examples of "antiphrasis".

European manner of greeting, save only that it was the left hand instead of the right, and in an English the most mutilated and full of antiphrasis I have ever heard said that he was my friend and that his companion was my friend, and then with engaging frankness asked had I any more tobacco.