catachresis

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It is a sort of quaint alteration or catachresis of Possunt quia posse videntur.

From A History of the French Novel, Vol. 1 From the Beginning to 1800 by Saintsbury, George

This journal was, at the period in question, rather remarkable for the use of the figure called by the rhetoricians catachresis.

From Rejected Addresses by Smith, James

As to “twinn'd stones”—may it not be a bold catachresis for muscles, cockles, and other empty shells with hinges, which are truly twinned?

From Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, Beaumont and Fletcher by Coleridge, Samuel Taylor

The stone furze ditches are scarcely bolder instances of the catachresis than the stone tables of shittim-wood.

From Tales and Novels — Volume 04 by Edgeworth, Maria

V.—I like that catachresis, but once again I repeat, I am practical, and prefer synedoche.

From Prairie Farmer, Vol. 56: No. 3, January 19, 1884. A Weekly Journal for the Farm, Orchard and Fireside by Various