malapropism
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From the name of Mrs. Malaprop, a character in the play The Rivals (1775) by Richard Brinsley Sheridan + -ism. 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 best-known example of a familiar comedic character archetype who unintentionally substitutes inappropriate but like-sounding words that take on a ludicrous meaning when used incorrectly.
Pronunciation[edit]
- (RP) IPA: /ˈmæləprɒpɪzəm/, X-SAMPA: /"m{l@prQpIz@m/
- (US) enPR: mălʹə-prä-pĭz-əm, IPA: /ˈmæləprɑːpɪzəm/, X-SAMPA: /"m{l@prA:pIsz@m/
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Audio (US) (file)
Noun[edit]
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.
- (countable) An instance of this; malaprop.
- The translator matched every malapropism in the original with one from his own language.
- The humor comes from all the malapropisms.
Synonyms[edit]
- (instance of malapropism): malaprop
Translations[edit]
the blundering use of a similar-sounding expression
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