Posted on 11/03/2005 4:45:21 AM PST by secret garden
In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day".
catachresis • \kat-uh-KREE-sis\ • noun
1. use of the wrong word for the context
2. use of a forced and especially paradoxical figure of speech
Example sentence:
The paper printed a correction for the previous day's catachresis: dubbing a local artist-philanthropist a "socialist" when they meant "socialite."
Etymology: As you might have guessed, "catachresis" is a word favored by grammarians. It can be employed as a fancy label of disparagement for whatever uses the grammarian finds unacceptable. Thus could Henry Fowler, in the 1920s, call "mutual" in "our mutual friend" a catachresis. (Fowler preferred "common," but "mutual" does have an established sense which is correct in that context.) More often, "catachresis" is used for an unintentional misuse and is very close in meaning to "malapropism," which usually refers to an unintentionally humorous misuse of a word. "Catachresis" has been used to describe (or decry) misuses of words since at least 1550. The word comes to us by way of Latin from the Greek noun "katachrçsis," which means "misuse."
Rules: Everyone must leave a post using the Word for the Day in a sentence.
The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day.
The Review threads are linked for your edification. ;-)
Practice makes perfect.....post on....
Review Thread One: Word For The Day, Thursday 11/14/02: Raffish (Be SURE to check out posts #92 and #111 on this thread!)
Review Thread Two: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/14/03: Roister
Review Thread Three: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/28/03: Obdurate
WFB's attempt to emulate us ; ) No pushing at the door please!
Here is my example with WFTD.
My favorite examples of catechresis are the misuses of affect and effect for each other.
Rise and shine!
Top 5?
Eh, no harm, no foul.
Numero uno!
Democrats for secrecy call,
They shoo the public into the hall,
A catachresis in demo speech,
For "ethics" they shrilly, constantly screech,
But what they mean is "Give to me ALL"!
Bronze?
I thought the same thing. Your post was hit hard with an ugly stick though.
Top 100?
You're early! Top 4 for you!
catcharesis--the ability to nab little monkeys
hullo.............my node is all struffed up and soemone is standing on my cheek bones...........sniffle.
When I went to St Thomas Moore elementary school, we had catechrecess every morning, immediately after cathechism class and before math.
!
Boy, I'm glad "I" never got caught caterechesting any words!
Morning! I'm turning in my homework on my way to work-back later-
The 'rat party provides plentiful examples
Of today's WFTD-
It seems there is catachresis
In much of what they say
Calling the Plame game a leak
When it's really only a drip
Put out by a couple of weasels
Wanting to take a power trip
Calling Hillary a senator
When they know she has an itch
To be queen and not a watchdog-
We know she's really a bitch
Watch out for the dreaded Simian B virus! A for you.
A+, nicely done!
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