Catachresti

/ˌkætəˈkrɛsti/ adjective

Definition

Relating to or characterized by catachresis; involving the improper or strained use of words or forced metaphors.

Etymology

From Greek katachrestikos, an adjectival form of katachresis, used in classical rhetoric to describe language that stretches conventional meaning.

Kelly Says

This rare adjective appears mostly in classical rhetorical texts to label kinds of wordplay that medieval and Renaissance scholars found either delightfully clever or annoyingly forced.

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