Definitions for malapropismˈmæl ə prɒpˌɪz əm
Random House Webster's College Dictionary
mal•a•prop•ismˈmæl ə prɒpˌɪz əm(n.)
a confused use of words in which an appropriate word is replaced by one with similar sound but ludicrously inappropriate meaning.
Category: Literature
an instance of this, as in “Lead the way and we'll precede.”
Category: Literature
Origin of malapropism:
1840–50; after Mrs. Malaprop, a character in Sheridan's The Rivals (1775)
Princeton's WordNet
malapropism, malaprop(noun)
the unintentional misuse of a word by confusion with one that sounds similar
Wiktionary
malapropism(Noun)
The blundering use of an absurdly inappropriate word or expression in place of a similar sounding one.
malapropism(Noun)
An instance of this; malaprop.
Origin: 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. 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.
Webster Dictionary
Malapropism(noun)
a grotesque misuse of a word; a word so used
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