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Definition of 'catachresis'

Word Frequency

catachresis in British

(ˌkætəˈkriːsɪs )
noun
the incorrect use of words, as luxuriant for luxurious
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
catachrestic (ˌkætəˈkrɛstɪk ) or catachrestical (ˌcataˈchrestical)
  adjective
catachrestically (ˌcataˈchrestically)
  adverb
Word origin of 'catachresis'
C16: from Latin, from Greek katakhrēsis a misusing, from katakhrēsthai, from khrēsthai to use
Word Frequency

catachresis in American

(ˌkætəˈkrisɪs ; katˌəkrēˈsis)
nounWord forms: plural ˌcataˈchreˌses (ˌkætəˈkriˌsiz ; katˌəkrēˈsēzˌ)
incorrect use of a word or words, as by misapplication of terminology or by strained or mixed metaphor
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
catachrestic (ˌcataˈchrestic) (ˌkætəˈkrɛstɪk ; katˌəkresˈtik)
  adjective or ˌcataˈchrestical
catachrestically (ˌcataˈchrestically)
  adverb
Word origin of 'catachresis'
L < Gr katachrēsis, misuse of a word < katachrēsthai < kata-, against + chrēsthai, to use < chrē, it is necessary < ? IE *ĝhrē-, var. of base *ĝher-, small, be lacking

Word Lists

figure of speech

Trends of 'catachresis'

Used Rarely. catachresis is in the lower 50% of commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

View usage for:

Nearby words of 'catachresis'

  • catabolite
  • catabolize
  • catacaustic
  • catachresis
  • cataclases
  • cataclasis
  • cataclasm

  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'C'

Source

Definition of catachresis from the Collins English Dictionary

Be

The verb be is used as an auxiliary verb and it can also be used as a main verb. See Types of main verb. The verb be is irregular. It has eight different forms: be, am, is, are, was, were, being, bee...
Read more about 'Be'
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Scrabble score for 'catachresis': 18
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