catachresis









catachresis


noun

  1. misuse or strained use of words, as in a mixed metaphor, occurring either in error or for rhetorical effect.

noun

  1. the incorrect use of words, as luxuriant for luxurious
n.

1580s, from Latin catachresis, from Greek katakhresis “misuse” (of a word), from katakhresthai “to misuse,” from kata- “down” (here with a sense of “perversion;” see cata-) + khresthai “to use” (see hortatory). Related: Catachrestic; catachrestical; catachrestically.

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