catachresis
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.cat·a·chre·sis
noun \ˌka-tə-ˈkrē-səs\ plural cat·a·chre·ses\-ˌsēz\
Definition of CATACHRESIS
1
: use of the wrong word for the context
2
: use of a forced and especially paradoxical figure of speech (as blind mouths)
— cat·a·chres·tic \-ˈkres-tik\ or cat·a·chres·ti·cal \-ti-kəl\ adjective
— cat·a·chres·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
Origin of CATACHRESIS
Latin, from Greek katachrēsis misuse, from katachrēsthai to use up, misuse, from kata- + chrēsthai to use
First Known Use: 1550
Rhymes with CATACHRESIS
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