malapropism

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malapropism XIX. f. name of Mrs. Malaprop, character in Sheridan's ‘The Rivals’ (1775), remarkable for her misuse of words, f. malapropos inopportune(ly) (XVII) — F. mal à propos not to the purpose; see MAL-, APROPOS, -ISM. Malaprop was formerly so used, and as adj.

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