释义 |
malapropism|ˈmæləprɒpɪz(ə)m| [f. malaprop + -ism.] Ludicrous misuse of words; an instance of this.
1849C. Brontë Shirley II. vi. 145 A malapropism which rumour had not failed to repeat. 1887Spectator 9 Apr. 492/1 That mental haziness which has its outcome in malapropism. 1890Harper's Mag. Apr. 664/1 Lemaître has reproached Shakespeare for his love of Malapropisms.
Add: Hence ˈmalapropist n., a person who commits a malapropism, or is given to committing malapropisms; malaproˈpistic a., of the nature of a malapropism.
1906Daily Chron. 18 Jan. 9/4 The prize ‘malapropist’ says:—‘The ‘firstnamed’..was run out of it by the topweight, greatly to the chagrin of the rider, as well as the owner of the horse.’ 1978Verbatim Sept. 9/1 Vaguely related to spoonerisms are a number of instances of utterances connected by an unthemely common theme with some juncture, some assonance, a few malapropistic and apropostic features, foul wordplay, and untenable juxtapositions. 1989Ibid. Spring 25/2 Small children are often malapropists. 1993Daily Tel. 18 Dec. (Weekend Suppl.) 24/4 The upper classes are ‘eccentric’, their servants malapropistic. |