malapropism
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
A reference to Mrs. Malaprop, a character in the play The Rivals (1775) by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. As dramatic characters in English comic plays of this time often had allusive names, it is likely that Sheridan fashioned the name from malapropos (“‘inappropriate’”). Mrs. Malaprop is perhaps the most well known of a familiar comedic character archetype who unintentionally substitutes inappropriate, but like-sounding, words that take on a ludicrous meaning when used incorrectly.
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
malapropism (plural malapropisms)
- (uncountable) The blundering use of an absurdly inappropriate word or expression in place of a similar sounding one.
- The script employed malapropism to great effect.
- Malapropism is much older as a phenomenon than it is as a word.
- (countable) A single instance of this; also malaprop.
- The translator matched every malapropism in the original with one from his own language.
- The humor comes from all the malapropisms.
[edit] See also
- For examples, see Appendix:Malapropisms.
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Translations
blundering use of similar-sounding expression
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