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solecism

 - 2 dictionary results

sol⋅e⋅cism

  [sol-uh-siz-uhm, soh-luh-]
Use solecism in a Sentence
–noun
1. a nonstandard or ungrammatical usage, as unflammable and they was.
2. a breach of good manners or etiquette.
3. any error, impropriety, or inconsistency.
Origin:
1570–80; < L soloecismus < Gk soloikismós, equiv. to sóloik(os) (Sólo(i) a city in Cilicia where a corrupt form of Attic Greek was spoken + -ikos -ic ) + -ismos -ism

Related forms:
sol⋅e⋅cist, noun
sol⋅e⋅cis⋅tic, sol⋅e⋅cis⋅ti⋅cal, adjective
sol⋅e⋅cis⋅ti⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To solecism
sol·e·cism   (sŏl'ĭ-sĭz'əm, sō'lĭ-)   
n.  

  1. A nonstandard usage or grammatical construction.

  2. A violation of etiquette.

  3. An impropriety, mistake, or incongruity.


[Latin soloecismus, from Greek soloikismos, from soloikizein, to speak incorrectly, from soloikos, speaking incorrectly, after Soloi (Soli), an Athenian colony in Cilicia where a dialect regarded as substandard was spoken.]
sol'e·cist n., sol'e·cis'tic adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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