1. A paradoxical statement; a paradox.
2. The quality or state of being paradoxical. Coleridge
PARAFFIN; PARAFFINE Par"af*fin, Par"af*fine, n. Etym: [F. paraffine, fr. L. parum too little + affinis akin. So named in allusion to its chemical inactivity.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white waxy substance, resembling spermaceti, tasteless and odorless, and obtained from coal tar, wood tar, petroleum, etc., by distillation. It is used as an illuminant and lubricant. It is very inert, not being acted upon by most of the strong chemical reagents. It was formerly regarded as a definite compound, but is now known to be a complex mixture of several higher hydrocarbons of the methane or marsh-gas series; hence, by extension, any substance, whether solid, liquid, or gaseous, of the same chemical series; thus coal gas and kerosene consist largely of paraffins.
Note: In the present chemical usage this word is spelt paraffin, but
in commerce it is commonly spelt paraffine. Native paraffin. See
Ozocerite.
— Paraffin series. See Methane series, under Methane.
PARAGE Par"age, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. par, adj., equal. Cf. Peerage, Peer an equal.]
1. (Old Eng. Law)
Defn: Equality of condition, blood, or dignity; also, equality in the partition of an inheritance. Spelman.
2. (Feudal Law)
Defn: Equality of condition between persons holding unequal portions of a fee. Burrill.