What is the meaning of word malaprop?
A malapropism (also called a malaprop, acyrologia, or Dogberryism) is the mistaken use of an incorrect word in place of a word with a similar sound, resulting in a nonsensical, sometimes humorous utterance.
How do you use malaprop in a sentence?
It’s difficult to see malaprop in a sentence . “I can see the electricity, ” malaprop manager Williams said when he arrived at Fenway Monday morning. She annoys Mrs . Malaprop by loudly professing her eternal devotion to ” Beverley ” while rejecting ” Jack Absolute “.
What is a malapropism example?
Malaprop’s malapropism examples: “He is the very pineapple of politeness!” Pineapple?! She subbed in this fruit name for “pinnacle.” “She’s as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of the Nile.” As far as we know, allegories don’t spend time around rivers—she was going for “alligator.”
What is the best definition of malapropism?
1 : the usually unintentionally humorous misuse or distortion of a word or phrase especially : the use of a word sounding somewhat like the one intended but ludicrously wrong in the context “Jesus healing those leopards” is an example of malapropism.
Is literally a malapropism?
Does “ridiculous” imply constant misuse and blatant disregard for the word’s meaning, as people are wont to claim is occurring with literally? It’s just hyperbole. A ‘malapropism’ involves, according to all the dictionaries I’ve checked in, using word A when word alpha was intended. ‘Catachresis’ is a broader term (1.
Why is it called spoonerism?
A spoonerism is an error in speech in which corresponding consonants, vowels, or morphemes are switched (see metathesis) between two words in a phrase. These are named after the Oxford don and ordained minister William Archibald Spooner, who reputedly did this.
What do you call a person who misused words?
The word you’re looking for is acyrologia. The person who uses such words could probably be called an acyrolog, although that’s a bit of a neologism. If the words being confused are similar sounding, you’re dealing with a subcategory of acyrologia called a malapropism or (less frequently) a dogberryism.
What is spoonerism give an example?
A spoonerism is a speech error in which the speaker switches the initial consonants of two consecutive words. If you say “bunny phone” instead of “funny bone,” you’ve uttered a spoonerism. “Jelly beans” becomes “belly jeans.” “Son, it is now kisstumary to cuss the bride.” You get the idea.
What does malapropos mean?
malapropos – of an inappropriate or incorrectly applied nature. inappropriate – not suitable for a particular occasion etc; “noise seems inappropriate at a time of sadness”; “inappropriate shoes for a walk on the beach”; “put inappropriate pressure on them”. apropos – of an appropriate or pertinent nature.
What is the origin of Malaprop?
Malapropism Definition. Malapropism finds its origins in the French phrase mal a propos, which means “inappropriate.” It is the use of an incorrect word in place of a similar-sounding word, which results in a nonsensical and humorous expression. The word malapropism comes from “Mrs.
What is the opposite of malapropism?
Mondegreens are in a sense the opposite of malapropisms; they result from something being mis heard rather than mis said. Here’s a few misheard phrases and song lyrics (the first three are well-known examples):
What does malappropriate mean?
malappropriate definition: inappropriate | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples 3. Malappropriate: To misappropriate; apply to a wrong use; misuse.