mal|a|prop|ism

mal|a|prop|ism
mal|a|prop|ism «MAL uh prop IHZ uhm», noun.
1. a ridiculous misuse of words, especially a confusion of two words somewhat similar in sound but different in meaning, such as a musical progeny for a musical prodigy. Malapropisms are often used for humorous effect.
2. an instance of this; misused word: »

Lemaitre has reproached Shakespeare for his love of malapropisms (Harper's).

[earlier malaprop < Mrs. Malaprop]

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • mal·a·prop·ism — /ˈmæləˌprɑːpˌızəm/ noun, pl isms [count] : an amusing error that occurs when a person mistakenly uses a word that sounds like another word but that has a very different meaning …   Useful english dictionary

  • ism — is·ma·el·ism; iso·la·tion·ism; isom·er·ism; isos·ter·ism; ital·ian·ism; ivory tower·ism; jack·son·ism; jaco·bin·ism; jaco·bit·ism; jain·ism; jan·sen·ism; ja·pan·ism; jef·fer·so·nian·ism; jesu·it·ism; jew·ism; jin·go·ism; jour·nal·ism; ju·da·ism;… …   English syllables

  • malapropism — mal·a·prop·ism …   English syllables

  • malapropism — mal|a|prop|ism [ mæləpra,pızəm ] noun count a word that is used wrongly but sounds like the word you should have used, especially one that creates a funny change of meaning …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • malapropism — mal•a•prop•ism [[t]ˈmæl ə prɒpˌɪz əm[/t]] n. 1) lit. a confused use of words in which an appropriate word is replaced by one with similar sound but ludicrously inappropriate meaning 2) lit. an instance of this, as in “Lead the way and we ll… …   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

  • malapropism — mal a*prop*ism, n. [From Mrs. Malaprop, a character in Sheridan s drama, The Rivals, who makes amusing blunders in her use of words. See {Malapropos}.] A grotesque misuse of a word; a word so used. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • malapropism — malapropistic, adj. /mal euh prop iz euhm/, n. 1. an act or habit of misusing words ridiculously, esp. by the confusion of words that are similar in sound. 2. an instance of this, as in Lead the way and we ll precede. [1840 50; MALAPROP + ISM] *… …   Universalium

  • o — abi·o·log·i·cal; ab·o·li·tion; ab·o·li·tion·ary; ab·o·li·tion·dom; ab·o·li·tion·ism; ab·o·li·tion·ist; ab·o·li·tion·ize; ab·o·ma·sal; ab·o·ma·sum; ac·an·thol·o·gy; ac·an·thop·o·dous; acar·i·dol·o·gist; ac·a·ri·nol·o·gy; acar·i·o·sis;… …   English syllables

  • tion — ab·bre·vi·a·tion; ab·di·ca·tion; ab·duc·tion; ab·er·ra·tion; ab·er·ra·tion·al; ab·jec·tion; ab·junc·tion; ab·ju·ra·tion; ab·lac·ta·tion; ab·la·tion; ab·lu·tion; ab·mi·gra·tion; ab·ne·ga·tion; ab·o·li·tion; ab·o·li·tion·ary; ab·o·li·tion·dom;… …   English syllables

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