catachresis

catachresis
catachresis (n.) 1580s, from L. catachresis, from Gk. katakhresis "misuse" (of a word), from katakhresthai "to misuse," from kata- "down" (here with a sense of "perversion;" see CATA- (Cf. cata-)) + khresthai "to use" (see HORTATORY (Cf. hortatory)). Related: Catachrestic.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Catachresis — (from Greek polytonic|κατάχρησις ), which literally means the incorrect or improper use of a word, is a term used to denote the (usually intentional) use of any figure of speech that flagrantly violates the norms of a language community. Compare… …   Wikipedia

  • catachresis — means ‘against usage’ and is a grammatical term referring to the improper use of words. Typical examples in everyday language are the use of infer to mean imply (but see infer, imply) and the use of refute to mean repudiate. Examples of literary… …   Modern English usage

  • Catachresis — Cat a*chre sis, n. [L. fr. Gr. ? misuse, fr. ? to misuse; kata against + ? to use.] (Rhet.) A figure by which one word is wrongly put for another, or by which a word is wrested from its true signification; as, To take arms against a sea of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • catachresis — noun distortion, exaggeration, false coloring, false construction, false reading, garbling, incorrect usage, misapplication, misapprehension, miscitation, misconception, misconstruction, misexplanation, misexplication, misexposition,… …   Law dictionary

  • catachresis — [kat΄ə krē′sis] n. pl. catachreses [kat΄ə krē′sēz΄] [L < Gr katachrēsis, misuse of a word < katachrēsthai < kata , against + chrēsthai, to use < chrē, it is necessary < ? IE * ĝhrē , var. of base * ĝher , small, be lacking]… …   English World dictionary

  • catachresis — /kætəˈkrisəs/ (say katuh kreesuhs) noun (plural catachreses /kætəˈkrisiz/ (say katuh kreeseez)) 1. misuse or strained use of words. 2. the employment of a word under a false form through misapprehension in regard to its origin: causeway and… …  

  • catachresis — noun (plural catachreses) Etymology: Latin, from Greek katachrēsis misuse, from katachrēsthai to use up, misuse, from kata + chrēsthai to use Date: 1550 1. use of the wrong word for the context 2. use of a forced and especially paradoxical figure …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • catachresis — См. catacresi …   Пятиязычный словарь лингвистических терминов

  • catachresis — catachrestic /kat euh kres tik/, catachrestical, adj. catachrestically, adv. /kat euh kree sis/, n. misuse or strained use of words, as in a mixed metaphor, occurring either in error or for rhetorical effect. [1580 90; < L < Gk: a misuse (akin to …   Universalium

  • catachresis — noun /kætəˈkɹiːsɪs/ a) A misuse of a word; an application of a term to something which it does not properly denote.<ref name= OED /> b) A misapplication or overextension of figurative …   Wiktionary

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