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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread catachresis #18059 02/02/2001 3:59 PM Anonymous Unregistered Anonymous Unregistered i came across this word today, and was surprised to see that an AWAD search on it comes up empty, since so many of our threads make reference to misused words. according to M-W: Main Entry: cat·a·chre·sis Pronunciation: "ka-t&-'krE-s&s Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural cat·a·chre·ses /-"sEz/ Etymology: Latin, from Greek katachrEsis misuse, from katachrEsthai to use up, misuse, from kata- + chrEsthai to use Date: 1553 1 : use of the wrong word for the context 2 : use of a forced and especially paradoxical figure of speech (as blind mouths) - cat·a·chres·tic /-'kres-tik/ or cat·a·chres·ti·cal /-ti-k&l/ adjective - cat·a·chres·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb bridget=) Ipsa scientia potestas est ~Bacon Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: catachresis #18060 02/02/2001 4:38 PM Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass tsuwm Carpal Tunnel tsuwm Carpal Tunnel Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass just to make this a continuing public service thread, OneLook now includes the AHD, with its audio pronunciations! for instance, onelook took me here for catechresis; just click the little speaker icon... http://www.bartleby.com/61/wavs/22/C0152200.wav ohmygawd! what have I done!! Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: catachresis #18061 02/02/2001 11:57 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 So now I know I'm a chronic catachretic.Bill Hunt or should it be catachreticist? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: catachresis #18062 02/03/2001 12:02 AM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 Okay, catachrestic. I'm pathetic.wwh Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: catachresis #18063 02/03/2001 12:32 AM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 After all,if I could get it right, I wouldn't be one.wwh Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary Forum Statistics Forums16 Topics13,915 Posts230,285 Members9,208 Most Online4,606 Sep 17th, 2025 Newest Members JerryC, blvd, Tony Hood, Wood Delivery, Forix Richard 9,208 Registered Users Top Posters(30 Days) wofahulicodoc 25 A C Bowden 6 JerryC 1 Top Posters wwh 13,858 Faldage 13,803 Jackie 11,613 wofahulicodoc 11,140 tsuwm 10,542 LukeJavan8 9,974 Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210 AnnaStrophic 6,511 Wordwind 6,296 of troy 5,400

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