if you don't believe the research done by the wiki guys, how about this from Michael Quinion - I'd particularly note this: The phrase para prosdokian occurs in classical Greek literature, meaning “contrary to expectations”, but at some point the two words have been run together.

well, that doesn't happen much, does it‽ [note interrobang, used often now for rhetorical questions]

edit: I predict that we'll some day soon see both paraprosdokian and epicaricacy in the OED[online]

Last edited by tsuwm; 06/02/12 02:55 AM.