Many of the words we use are derived from the names of people or literary characters.
2006-08-24 23:15:01 · 5 answers · asked by MV 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
The ridiculous misuse of words
2006-08-24 23:26:03 · answer #1 · answered by just wondering 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A malapropism is the misuse of similar sounding words and is named after Mrs Malaprop a character in The Rivals, a comedy written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan.
Mrs Malaprop would substitute a word in a sentence for a similar sounding word, one example being "He is the very pineapple of politeness" (as opposed to pinnacle).
2006-08-25 06:28:17 · answer #2 · answered by Trevor 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the usually unintentionally humorous misuse or distortion of a word or phrase; especially : the use of a word sounding somewhat like the one intended but ludicrously wrong in the context
Etymology: Mrs. Malaprop, character noted for her misuse of words in R. B. Sheridan's comedy The Rivals (1775)
Mrs Malaprop would substitute a word in a sentence for a similar sounding word, one example being "He is the very pineapple of politeness" (as opposed to pinnacle).
2006-08-25 06:28:57 · answer #3 · answered by gurman5us 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was supposed to have come from Mrs. Malaprop, but the name itself means something. "mal" meaning bad, or not, and "aprop" meaning appropriate. So together it would mean, at least to me, something not appropriate. And that's how they usually come out.
2006-08-25 10:05:00 · answer #4 · answered by kitten lover3 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stupidity ,clumsiness or malapropriate!!?
2006-08-25 06:21:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋