cat|a|chre|sis

cat|a|chre|sis
cat|a|chre|sis «KAT uh KREE sihs», noun, plural -ses «-seez».
1. the misuse or strained use of words, as in an inconsistent metaphor.
2. misuse of word elements, changing the form of a word: »

As a result of catachresis it [the suffix -ish] then acquired the meaning "having the bad qualities of' as in brutish, clownish, and foppish (Simeon Potter).

[< Late Latin catachrēsis < Greek katáchrēsis misuse, ultimately < kata- amiss + chrêsthai to use]

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • chre — an·ti·chre·sis; cat·a·chre·sis; chre·sard; eu·chre; …   English syllables

  • catachresis — cat·a·chre·sis …   English syllables

  • catachresis — cat•a•chre•sis [[t]ˌkæt əˈkri sɪs[/t]] n. misuse or strained use of words, as in a mixed metaphor, occurring either in error or for rhetorical effect • Etymology: 1580–90; < L < Gk: a misuse =katachrê(sthai) to misuse (kata cata +chrêsthai… …   From formal English to slang

  • a — acar·a·pis; ac·a·ri·a·sis; ac·a·ri·a·sis; ac·a·ri·na; ac·a·ri·nar·i·um; ac·a·rine; ac·a·ri·nol·o·gy; ac·a·ri·no·sis; ac·a·ro·ce·cid·i·um; ac·a·roid; ac·a·rol·o·gist; ac·a·rol·o·gy; ac·a·ro·pho·bia; ac·a·rus; acat·a·lep·sy; acat·a·lex·is;… …   English syllables

  • 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

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