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