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malapropism

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malapropism

Main Entry:: mal·a·prop·ism
Pronunciation:: \ˈma-lə-ˌprä-ˌpi-zəm\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: Mrs. Malaprop, character noted for her misuse of words in R. B. Sheridan's comedy The Rivals (1775)
Date:: 1849

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 context2: malaprop

— mal·a·prop·ist

Listen to the pronunciation of malapropist

\-ˌprä-pist\ noun

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