Part 54

4. (Arch.) An open space within a monastery or adjoining a church, as the space within a cloister, the open court before a basilica, etc.

5. A churchyard or cemetery. [Obs.] Oxf. Gloss.

Fool's paradise. See under Fool, and Limbo. -- Grains of paradise. (Bot.) See Melequeta pepper, under Pepper. -- Paradise bird. (Zoˆl.) Same as Bird of paradise. Among the most beautiful species are the superb (Lophorina superba); the magnificent (Diphyllodes magnifica); and the six-shafted paradise bird (Parotia sefilata). The long-billed paradise birds (EpimachinÊ) also include some highly ornamental species, as the twelve-wired paradise bird (Seleucides alba), which is black, yellow, and white, with six long breast feathers on each side, ending in long, slender filaments. See Bird of paradise in the Vocabulary. -- Paradise fish (Zoˆl.), a beautiful fresh-water Asiatic fish (Macropodus viridiauratus) having very large fins. It is often kept alive as an ornamental fish. -- Paradise flycatcher (Zoˆl.), any flycatcher of the genus Terpsiphone, having the middle tail feathers extremely elongated. The adult male of T. paradisi is white, with the head glossy dark green, and crested. -- Paradise grackle (Zoˆl.), a very beautiful bird of New Guinea, of the genus Astrapia, having dark velvety plumage with brilliant metallic tints. -- Paradise nut (Bot.), the sapucaia nut. See Sapucaia nut. [Local, U. S.] -- Paradise whidah bird. (Zoˆl.) See Whidah.

Par"a*dise (?), v. t. To affect or exalt with visions of felicity; to entrance; to bewitch. [R.] Marston.

Par`a*dis"e*an (?), a. Paradisiacal.

Par"a*dised (?), a. Placed in paradise; enjoying delights as of paradise.

{ Par`a*dis"i*ac (?), Par`a*di*si"a*cal (?), } a. [L. paradisiacus.] Of or pertaining to paradise; suitable to, or like, paradise. C. Kingsley. T. Burnet. "A paradisiacal scene." Pope.

The valley . . . is of quite paradisiac beauty.

G. Eliot.

{ Par`a*dis"i*al (?), Par`a*dis"i*an (?), } a. Paradisiacal. [R.]

Par`a*dis"ic (?), a. Paradisiacal. [R.] Broome.

Par`a*dis"ic*al (?), a. Paradisiacal. [R.]

Par`a*dos (?), n.; pl. Paradoses (#). [F., fr. parer to defend + dos back, L. dorsum.] (Fort.) An intercepting mound, erected in any part of a fortification to protect the defenders from a rear or ricochet fire; a traverse. Farrow.

Par`a*dox (?), n.; pl. Paradoxes (#). [F. paradoxe, L. paradoxum, fr. Gr. &?;; para` beside, beyond, contrary to + &?; to think, suppose, imagine. See Para-, and Dogma.] A tenet or proposition contrary to received opinion; an assertion or sentiment seemingly contradictory, or opposed to common sense; that which in appearance or terms is absurd, but yet may be true in fact.

A gloss there is to color that paradox, and make it appear in show not to be altogether unreasonable.

Hooker.

This was sometime a paradox, but now the time gives it proof.

Shak.

Hydrostatic paradox. See under Hydrostatic.

Par"a*dox`al (?), a. Paradoxical. [Obs.]

Par`a*dox"ic*al (?), a. 1. Of the nature of a paradox.

2. Inclined to paradoxes, or to tenets or notions contrary to received opinions. Southey.

-- Par`a*dox"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Par`a*dox"ic*al*ness, n.

Par"a*dox`er (?), n., Par"a*dox`ist (&?;), n. One who proposes a paradox.

||Par`a*dox"i*des (?), n. [NL.] (Paleon.) A genus of large trilobites ||characteristic of the primordial formations.

Par`a*dox*ol"o*gy (?), n. [Paradox + -logy.] The use of paradoxes. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Par`a*dox"ure (-dks"r), n. [Gr. para`doxos incredible, paradoxical + o'yra` tail. So called because its tail is unlike that of the other animals to which it was supposed to be related.] (Zoˆl.) Any species of Paradoxurus, a genus of Asiatic viverrine mammals allied to the civet, as the musang, and the luwack or palm cat (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus). See Musang.

Par"a*dox`y (?), n. 1. A paradoxical statement; a paradox.