Etymology
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malapropism (n.)

"act or habit of misapplying words through ambition to use fine language," also a word so misapplied, 1826, from Mrs. Malaprop, character in Sheridan's play "The Rivals" (1775), noted for her ridiculous misuse of large words (such as contagious countries for contiguous countries), her name coined from malapropos.

When Mrs. Malaprop, in Sheridan's Rivals, is said to 'deck her dull chat with hard words which she don't understand,' she protests, 'Sure, if I reprehend anything in this world it is the use of my oracular tongue, & a nice derangement of epitaphs'—having vague memories of apprehend, vernacular, arrangement, & epithets. She is now the matron saint of those who go wordfowling with a blunderbuss. [Fowler]

Entries linking to malapropism

malapropos (adv.)

"unsuitably, unseasonably," 1660s, from French mal à propos "inopportunely, inappropriately," literally "badly for the purpose," from mal (see mal-) + proposer "to propose, advance, suggest," from pro "forth" (see pro-) + poser "put, place" (see pose (v.1)). As an adjective, "inappropriate, out of place," by 1711.

malaprop (n.)

"a ludicrous misuse of a big word," 1823, from the name of the theatrical character Mrs. Malaprop, who was noted for her blunders in the use of words (see malapropism). As an adjective, "out of place, inapt," by 1840. Related: Malapropian.

spoonerism (n.)

1900, but according to OED in use at Oxford as early as 1885, involuntary transposition of sounds in two or more words (such as "shoving leopard" for "loving shepherd," "half-warmed fish" for "half-formed wish," "beery work speaking to empty wenches," etc.), in reference to the Rev. William A. Spooner (1844-1930), warden of New College, Oxford, who was noted for such disfigures of speech. A different thing from malapropism.

updated on August 16, 2020

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Dictionary entries near malapropism

Malagasy

malaise

malamute

malapert

malaprop

malapropism

malapropos

malaria

malarial

malarkey

malassimilation

© 2001-2023 Douglas Harper