Christmas always reminds me of my search for one word oxymorons, essentially a word that contradicts itself. I was stuck on indescribable for the longest time. Saying that something can't be described, is in fact describing it.

There are others out there, such as bittersweet, and apparently if you speak Greek, Sophomore means both wise and foolish. I kinda think compounds words are cheating and most of the one word oxymorons are two works put together. (Oxymoron itself is an oxymoron, the word was created by combining two words meaning keen/sharp and foolish.)

So why does Christmas bring me back to this idea of single words that seem to be an argument with themselves. Well, it is because my favorite single word oxymoron that is not a compound word is a Christmas word. Now if you want to take a minute to think about it and try and figure out which word I am thinking about, I'll give you a minute. Here are the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne to keep you from seeing the answer just yet. The answer follows.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne? For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet
For days of auld lang syne We twa hae run about the braes
And pu'd the gowans fine
But we've wander'd mony a weary fit
Sin days of auld lang syne And we twa hae paidl'd I' the burn
Frae morning sun 'til dine But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin days of auld lang syne For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet
For days of auld lang syne And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp
And surely I'll be mine
And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne And there's a hand, my trusty fiere
And gie's a hand o' thine
And we'll tak a right gude-willy waught
For auld lang syne For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet For auld lang syne

Ok, you made it. Did you figure it out? It is Noel. (Read "No L," but there is an L in the word.) Thanks for playing and let me know if have any others that you can think of.

(One final note, that if you like this stuff you can research more about. Oxymoron, is in fact itself a one word oxymoron.)