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catachresis (n.)
"an improper or inconsistent metaphor, exceptional or undue extension of a word's meaning" (as "to stone someone with bricks"), 1580s, from Latin catachresis, from Greek katakhresis "misuse" (of a word), from katakhresthai "to misuse," from kata "down" (here with a sense of "perversion;" see cata-) + khresthai "to use" (from PIE root *gher- (2) "to like, want"). Related: Catachrestic; catachrestical; catachrestically.
updated on October 19, 2017
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Dictionary entries near catachresis
cat
CAT
cata-
catabolic
catabolism
catachresis
cataclasm
cataclysm
cataclysmic
catacomb
catafalque