Posted on 10/27/2011 4:33:44 AM PDT 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 sentences:
"Online dictionaries are handy. One can click on synonyms and antonyms, follow new links and lures, and get pleasantly lost in a high-tech thicket of info. Being a tap or two away, more people might be tempted to look up unfamiliar words. And anything that counteracts catachresis is fine with us."
-- From an editorial in the Telegram & Gazette (Massachusetts), December 7, 2009
"Dryden had drawn attention to Cleveland's poetic manner in Of Dramatick Poesy: An Essay (1668), creating the label 'Clevelandism' to name the poet's habit of catachresis, 'wresting and torturing a word into another meaning', and making unfavorable comparisons between Donne and Cleveland…."
-- From Nigel Smith's 2010 book Andrew Marvell: The Chameleon
Etymology:
As you might have guessed, "catachresis" is a word favored by grammarians. It can sometimes be used merely as a fancy label of disparagement for uses the grammarian finds unacceptable --as when Henry Fowler insisted in 1926 that "mutual" in "our mutual friend" was a catachresis. (Fowler preferred "common," but "mutual" does have an established sense which is correct in that context.) The first recorded use of "catachresis" dates to1553, and it has been used to describe (or decry) misuses of a word ever since. "Catachresis" comes to us by way of Latin from the Greek word "katachrēsis," which means "misuse."
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!
Yeah, but he's "The One."
Speaking of catachresis--I was watching CSI Miami a couple of weeks ago, when I heard this beauty:
Horatio (David Caruso's character) is interviewing a nasty character who likes to beat up his wife when he's not frequenting prostitutes for some rough fun and games. Horatio asks him about a dead hooker.
Horatio: I understand you retained the services of she and Miss Angela Olson.
This was written by someone who (allegedly) has an education. It was spoken by an actor who should have shuddered when the words came out. And with all of the people on the set, and all those involved in editing, post-production, and the like, not one solitary soul noticed that "she" really doesn't fit as the object of the preposition "of." I swear, I learned that rule in 4th grade. (Okay, I was in 4th grade in 1956, when 4th grade was 4th grade, but still...).
I've heard that construction often while watching the Yankees. Ken Singleton, former jock and current announcer, will give you this: "Gardner is on first base. Between he and Granderson, the Yankees have two base-stealing threats."
It boggles the mind.
You win!! That’s the guy. What a maroon Brooks is.
you would think SOMEONE would have caught it!
Delicious irony indeed.
A+ for you! I’m waiting for some Norm Crosbyisms. Maybe the class isn’t old enough to remember him.
I always figured China would end up at war against Russia. It makes perfect sense. Lots of land and lots of women as the Russian men die early from alchoholism.
My mind keeps going back to the fact that people with far more biblical knowledge than I, say that the US doesn’t appear in Revelations.
I remember Norm Crosby. I believe he reached the pinochle of his success a few decades back. (That’s one of his lines.)
Excellent use of catechresis there. A for you!
WHERE????? it was completely unintentional, bc i have no idea how to do devices. literary or otherwise. I would never get a “get your freak on” note in my luggage! ROR!!
Love, love, love it! How many people do you employ? A++!
After a few minutes of heavy silence and deep concentration on their textbooks as if pondering esoteric and ancient texts I broke ranks with the all male, all shy class and raised my hand like a flag of surrender to her attention.
In that languid, liquid way of recognition that said nothing but hinted at everything Miss Irene said,
“James R., Y'all will tell us what catachresis means now won't you?” as an order, a request, a question depending how a callow young man might read her shamelessly direct yet innocent gaze.
“Yesmam, catachresis is what happens when a cat gets ran over by a car”, I replied in my new found role as class clown with classless humor.
Without so much as a blink of those sleepy smiling eyes Miss Irene said,
“Why James R., you are the clever one. So before going home today you will write out a report on that word, a copy for every student here. Best get started, hon, you want a grade”.
I think of her still as Miss Iron.
I’m giving her a “not guilty”
And a big old guilty to the horny jackbooted thug at TSA.
No, I think that’s catechrism. ROR!
You are never boring. A for you!
· They claim Conservatives try to impose archaic sets of rules on everyone, yet their own P.C. dictates must be followed.
· Their “watchdogs” scream and shout when they catch raises being given to CEO’s (rightly or not, it makes no difference), but are silent when Public-sector heads and Union cronies pad their accounts.
· Legitimate critics of Obama are racists each & every time they open their mouths; however, “Community Occupiers” who hold Jews in contempt and responsible for our financial woes are praised and to be emulated.
· Clueless progressives will chastise car companies and buyers for having “planet-killing” SUV’s, all the while not realizing their precious Volts actually run on di-i-i-r-rty coal.
If it weren’t for double-standards, Liberals wouldn’t have any standards at all… (Sarcastic, eh? ;)
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