catachresis
catachresis
kat-a-kree'-sis Gk. misuse abusio
figure of abuse, abusion
The use of a word in a context that differs from its proper
application.This figure is generally considered a vice; however,
Quintilian defends its use as a way by which one adapts existing
terms to applications where a proper term does not exist.
Examples In this example, what is meant is conveyed through a
misapplication of one part of the body to another. As one said that
disliked a picture with a crooked nose, "The elbow of his nose is
disproportionable" J. Smith
The word "parricide" literally means a killer of one's father,
but for lack of proper terms, is also used to refer to killing
one's mother or brother: In his rage at Gertrude, Hamlet nearly
became a parricide like his uncle.
In this example, no parallel idiom to "sight unseen" exists for
things auditory, so the idiom is wrenched from its proper context
to this unusual one.
He was foolish enough to order the new music CD sight
unseen.
Similarly, there is no word comparable to "sightseeing" for a
similar sort of tour done with sound, and so a familiar (if
technically inappropriate) use of "seeing" is used: The podcast
included a soundseeing tour of London's theatre district.
Related Figuresl metaphor l acyron l metalepsis
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catachresis
Related Topics of Inventionl Comparison
See Alsol Figures of Speech: Vices
Sources: Ad Herennium 4.33.35 ("abusio"); Quintilian 8.2.6;
8.6.34-36; Susenbrotus (1540) 11 ("catachresis," "abusio"); Sherry
(1550) 41 ("catachresis", "abusio"); Wilson (1560) 200 ("abusion");
Peacham (1577) C4r; Putt. (1589) 190 ("catachresis," "figure of
abuse"); Day 1599 79; Hoskins 1599 11; Butler B1r-v
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
License.
Gideon O. Burton, Brigham Young University Please cite "Silva
Rhetoricae" (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Trees | SILVA RHETORICAE | Flowers
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