Revision 145230 of "Malapropism" on enwiki

A '''malapropism''' (from [[French language|French]] ''mal à propos'', "ill to purpose") is an incorrect usage of a word, usually with comic effect. The term comes from the name of '''Mrs Malaprop''', a character in [[Richard Brinsley Sheridan|Richard Brinsley Sheridan's]] [[comedy]], ''[[The Rivals]]'' ([[1775]]), whose name was in turn derived from the existing English word ''malapropos'', meaning "inappropriately". Here are some examples from her dialogue:

:"He's as headstrong as an [[allegory]] on the banks of the [[Nile]]." (i.e., [[alligator]])

:"He is the very [[pineapple]] of politeness." (i.e., pinnacle) 

:"If I reprehend any thing in this world, it is the use of my [[oracle|oracular]] tongue, and a nice derangement of [[epitaph]]s!" (i.e., apprehend; [[vernacular]]; arrangement; [[epithet]]s)

However, it might be more appropriate to call such confusions "Dogberryisms" after Sergeant Dogberry in [[William Shakespeare]]'s ''[[Much Ado About Nothing]]'', who was making them almost two centuries earlier, for example:

:"Comparisons are odorous." (i.e. odious)

:"Our watch, sir, have indeed comprehended two auspicious persons." (i.e. apprehended; suspicious)

A malapropism found in a student paper reads:

:"Many people are morally opposed to intravenous fertilization." (i.e. [[in vitro fertilization|in vitro]])

Common malapropisms in modern English include use of:

* ''Disinterested'' (impartial, unbiased) for ''uninterested'' ("A judge should be disinterested, but not uninterested")
* ''Fortuitous'' ([[random]], by chance) for ''fortunate''
* ''In the ascendancy'' for ''in the ascendant'' ("One has the ascendancy" vs "One is in the ascendant")
* ''[[Barbaric]]'' for ''barbarous'' ("Barbaric" can be positive and is used of culture, "barbarous" is negative and used of behavior: "Barbaric splendor" vs "Barbarous cruelty")
* ''Enormity'' (a heinous act) for ''enormousness'' (being very large).
* ''Noisome'' (smelly) for ''noisy'' (very loud)

'''[[Ringo Starr]] was famous for his many malapropisms which became [[Beatles]] songs:'''

* Tomorrow never knows
* It's been a hard days night
* Eight days a week

'''See also''':

* [[Fowler's Modern English Usage]]
* [[Pleonasm]]
* [[Elegant variation]]
* [[Yogiisms]]

[[nl:Malapropisme]]