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catachresis
[ kat-uh-kree-sis ]
/ ˌkæt əˈkri sɪs /
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noun
misuse or strained use of words, as in a mixed metaphor, occurring either in error or for rhetorical effect.
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Origin of catachresis
First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin catachrēsis, from Greek katáchrēsis “a misuse or misapplication of a word or phrase” (derivative of katachrêsthai “to misuse”), equivalent to kata- verb prefix implying waste or consumption + chrêsis “use” (noun derivative of chrê(sthai) “to use, need”) + -sis verbal abstract noun suffix. See cata-, -sis
OTHER WORDS FROM catachresis
cat·a·chres·tic [kat-uh-kres-tik], /ˌkæt əˈkrɛs tɪk/, cat·a·chres·ti·cal, adjectivecat·a·chres·ti·cal·ly, adverbWords nearby catachresis
catabolic, catabolism, catabolite, catabolize, catacaustic, catachresis, cataclasis, cataclastic, cataclinal, cataclysm, cataclysmic
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use catachresis in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for catachresis
catachresis
/ (ˌkætəˈkriːsɪs) /
noun
the incorrect use of words, as luxuriant for luxurious
Derived forms of catachresis
catachrestic (ˌkætəˈkrɛstɪk) or catachrestical, adjectivecatachrestically, adverbWord Origin for catachresis
C16: from Latin, from Greek katakhrēsis a misusing, from katakhrēsthai, from khrēsthai to use
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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