English Explanatory Dictionary

catachresis

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A misuse of a word; an application of a term to something which it does not properly denote.
  2. Such a misuse involving some similarity of sound between the misused word and the appropriate word.
  3. A misapplication or overextension of a figurative or analogical description; a wrongly applied metaphor or trope.

Pronunciation

/ˌkæt.əˈkɹiː.sɪs/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-catachresis.wav

Word forms

catachresis catachreses catechresis katachresis

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin catachrēsis, borrowed from Ancient Greek κατάχρησις (katákhrēsis, “misuse (of a word)”).

Synonyms

malapropism abusio

Related words

catachresized catachrestic catachrestical catachrestically eggcorn misnomer phantonym

Translations

Catalan: catacresi Chinese Mandarin: 訛轉 /讹转 Esperanto: katakrezo Finnish: (sanan) väärä käyttö French: catachrèse Japanese: 濫喩 Latin: catachresis Norwegian: katakrese Occitan: catacrèsi Polish: katachreza Portuguese: catacrese Russian: катахре́за Sicilian: catàcrisi Sicilian: catacrisi Spanish: impropiedad léxica Swedish: katakres
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