1. ". . . isn't THAT what an oxymoron is!!!??"

Well, oxymoron is used for a phrase and not a word, isn't it?

2. ". . . sophomore, for e.g., WHY was it constructed that way?"

I think it might mean a person who has some wisdom (hence 'sophos'), but is in quest of more, hence still 'foolish' in a some ways (hence 'moros')... like a second year college student.