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A malapropism (/ ˈ m æ l ə p r ɒ p ɪ z əm /; also called a malaprop, acyrologia or Dogberryism) is the incorrect use of a word in place of a word with a similar sound, either unintentionally or for comedic effect, resulting in a nonsensical, often humorous utterance.
Fallacies of definition are the various ways in which definitions can fail to explain terms. The phrase is used to suggest an analogy with an informal fallacy. [1] Definitions may fail to have merit, because they are overly broad, [2] [3] [4] overly narrow, [3] [4] or incomprehensible; [4] or they use obscure or ambiguous language, [2] contain mutually exclusive parts, [3] or (perhaps most ...
Definitional retreat – changing the meaning of a word when an objection is raised. [23] Often paired with moving the goalposts (see below), as when an argument is challenged using a common definition of a term in the argument, and the arguer presents a different definition of the term and thereby demands different evidence to debunk the argument.
The first known use of the word literally was in the 15th century, [2] or the 1530s. [3] [2] The use of the word as an intensifier emerged later, at the latest by 1769, [4] [5] when Frances Brooke wrote the following sentence: [4] He is a fortunate man to be introduced to such a party of fine women at his arrival; it is literally to feed among ...
The words listed below are frequently used in ways that major English dictionaries do not condone in any definition. See List of English words with disputed usage for words that are used in ways that are deprecated by some usage writers but are condoned by some dictionaries.
In honor of Black Twitter's contribution, Stacker compiled a list of 20 slang words it brought to popularity, using the AAVE Glossary, Urban Dictionary, Know Your Meme, and other internet ...
A aggravate – Some have argued that this word should not be used in the sense of "to annoy" or "to oppress", but only to mean "to make worse". According to AHDI, the use of "aggravate" as "annoy" occurs in English as far back as the 17th century. In Latin, from which the word was borrowed, both meanings were used. Sixty-eight percent of AHD4's usage panel approves of its use in "It's the ...
"Wandering planet" – the word planet comes from the Greek word 'πλανήτης (planḗtēs), which itself means "wanderer". "If you know, you know", a common English phrase. "A pair of two"; by its nature, a pair is two items, so "a pair of two" is redundant. "What's for you won't go by you", a Scottish proverb that is tautological