catachrestical

[kat-uh-kree-sis]

cat·a·chre·sis

[kat-uh-kree-sis]
noun
misuse or strained use of words, as in a mixed metaphor, occurring either in error or for rhetorical effect.

Origin:
1580–90; < Latin < Greek: a misuse (akin to katachrêsthai to misuse), equivalent to kata- cata- + chrêsis use (chrê(sthai) to use, need + -sis -sis)

cat·a·chres·tic [kat-uh-kres-tik] , cat·a·chres·ti·cal, adjective
cat·a·chres·ti·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To catachrestical

00:10

00:09

00:08

00:07

00:06

00:05

00:04

00:03

00:02

00:01

Catachrestical is always a great word to know.
So is lollapalooza. Does it mean:
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
Collins
World English Dictionary
catachresis (ˌkætəˈkriːsɪs)
 
n
the incorrect use of words, as luxuriant for luxurious
 
[C16: from Latin, from Greek katakhrēsis a misusing, from katakhrēsthai, from khrēsthai to use]
 
catachrestic
 
adj
 
cata'chrestical
 
adj
 
cata'chrestically
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT