malaprop

PRONUNCIATION:
(MAL-uh-prop)

MEANING:
verb intr.: To misuse a word by confusing it with a similar-sounding word,
producing a humorous effect. For example, �pineapple of perfection� for �pinnacle
of perfection� (from the play The Rivals).

ETYMOLOGY:
After Mrs. Malaprop, a character in Richard Sheridan�s play, The Rivals (1775), who
confused words in this manner. The name Malaprop is coined from French �mal �
propos� (inappropriate). Earliest documented use: 1959.

teknonymy or tecnonymy
PRONUNCIATION:
(tek-NON-uh-mee)

MEANING:
noun: The custom of naming a parent after their child.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Greek teknon (child) + -onym (name). Earliest documented use: 1888.

NOTES:
If you have ever called your spouse Billy�s Dad or Billy�s Mom, you have practiced
teknonymy.

solecism
PRONUNCIATION:
(SOL-i-siz-ehm, SO-li-)

MEANING:
noun:
1. A grammatical mistake or a nonstandard usage.
2. A breach of etiquette.
3. An error, inconsistency, or impropriety.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin soloecismus, from Greek soloikismos, from soloikos (speaking
incorrectly; literally, inhabitant of Soloi) after Soloi, an ancient Athenian
colony in Cilicia where a dialect considered as substandard was spoken. Earliest
documented use: 1577.

Plato�s cave
PRONUNCIATION:
(PLAY-tohz kayv)

MEANING:
noun: An illusory place or experience.

ETYMOLOGY:
After the allegory of Plato�s cave in which people imprisoned there see shadows and
assume that to be their reality. Earliest documented use: 1683.

amuse-gueule
PRONUNCIATION:
(uh-mooz-GUHL)
MEANING:
noun: A small item of food served as an appetizer.

ETYMOLOGY:
From French amuse-gueule (literally, amuses the mouth), from amuser (to amuse) +
gueule (mouth).

Croesus
PRONUNCIATION:
(KREE-suhs)

MEANING:
noun: A very wealthy person.

ETYMOLOGY:
After Croesus (560-546 BCE), last king of Lydia, known for his great wealth

mythopoeic or mythopeic
PRONUNCIATION:
(mith-uh-PEE-ik), also mythopoetic (-po-ET-ik)

MEANING:
adjective: Relating to the making of myths.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Greek mythos (myth) + poiein (to make)

concert pitch
PRONUNCIATION:
(KAHN-suhrt pich)

MEANING:
noun:
1. A tuning standard for musical instruments in which the note A above middle C is
assigned a frequency of 440 cycles per second (audio).
2. A state of being tensely alert or ready.

enantiodromia
PRONUNCIATION:
(i-nan-tee-uh-DROH-mee-uh)

MEANING:
noun: The tendency of things, beliefs, etc., to change into their opposites.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Greek enantio- (opposite) + dromos (running).

sitomania
PRONUNCIATION:
(sy-tuh-MAY-nee-uh)

MEANING:
noun: An abnormal craving for food.

segue
PRONUNCIATION:
(SEG-way, SAY-gway)

MEANING:
verb intr.: To make a smooth transition from one section or topic to another, in
conversation, music, film. etc.
noun: A smooth transition from one section or topic to another.

cunctative
PRONUNCIATION:
(KUNGK-tuh-tiv)

MEANING:
adjective: Delaying; slow.

mise en abyme
PRONUNCIATION:
(mee-zan-nah-BEEM)

MEANING:
noun: Self-reflection in a literary work, a work of art, etc.

contretemps
PRONUNCIATION:
(KON-truh-tan, kawn-truh-TAN), plural contretemps (-tanz)
the last syllable is nasal

MEANING:
noun:
1. An unforeseen and unfortunate occurrence.
2. A disagreement or dispute.