What Is Catachresis? | Meaning, Definition & Examples
Catachresis is the misapplication of a word or phrase in a way that defies conventional use. It makes exaggerated, unusual, or forced comparisons between two ideas or objects that initially seem incorrect but reveal new meanings. We encounter catachresis in literature, poetry, songs, and everyday speech.
Catachresis definition
Catachresis is a figure of speech that involves using a word in a context that differs from its proper application. This often occurs through unusual word pairings and mixed metaphors that make no objective sense. For example, the phrase “blind mouths” illustrates this concept.
In rhetoric and literature, catachresis is a deliberate stylistic choice, whereas in everyday use it has a different meaning, that of a linguistic error. This is the case, for instance, when people mistakenly substitute “anachronism” for “anomaly” or “flagrant” for “blatant.”
The term “catachresis” comes from Greek and means “misuse” or “abuse,” pointing to the misuse or strained use of words for rhetorical effect. When executed skillfully, catachresis allows writers to push the limits of language, creating new, meaningful expressions that capture the readers’ attention.
Catachresis examples
Catachresis appears in various forms of writing and speech, creating striking and thought-provoking expressions.
In the following line spoken by Brutus, Shakespeare employs catachresis by likening the affairs of men to ocean tides.
Connecting these unrelated domains—ocean tides and human affairs —is a creative misuse of language, forcing the audience to envision fortune as something that flows and must be seized at the right moment.
In his Humanist of the Year Award acceptance speech, Kurt Vonnegut employs catachresis to express the discomfort and persistent nature of being accused of something in a way that is more vivid and immediate than conventional language would allow.
An accusation is an abstract concept that cannot physically “stick in one’s craw” (throat) and, of course, one cannot literally “cough up” an accusation to “look at it.” This creative misuse of language exemplifies catachresis.
Related terms
Catachresis shares similarities with several other rhetorical devices:
- Malapropism: This refers to the unintentional misuse of a word by substituting it with a similar-sounding one, creating a humorous effect (e.g., saying “alligator” instead of “allegory”). Unlike catachresis, which is deliberate and meaningful, malapropism is always an error.
- Metaphor: This involves making a comparison between two dissimilar things, typically by stating that one thing is the other (e.g., “You are my sunshine”). Catachresis can be considered an extreme or strained metaphor that pushes the boundaries of language. While all catachreses involving comparison are metaphors, not all metaphors qualify as catachreses.
- Oxymoron: This combines contradictory terms for rhetorical effect (e.g., “alone together”). Both catachresis and oxymoron involve contradictory elements, however, oxymorons typically join opposing adjectives and nouns, while catachresis involves broader misapplications of language across various parts of speech.
- Hyperbole: It is an exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally, as in “We had the best pizza in the world.” Both catachresis and hyperbole intentionally depart from literal truth, but hyperbole amplifies reality to impossible levels, whereas catachresis combines conceptually incompatible elements.
Frequently asked questions about catachresis
- What is an example of catachresis?
-
The line “Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon’s purse; that is, one may reach deep enough, and find little” from Timon of Athens by Shakespeare is an example of catachresis.
It describes Lord Timon’s purse as experiencing the “deepest winter, ” linking financial emptiness to a seasonal concept. This unconventional metaphor highlights the severity of Timon’s financial ruin, emphasizing how empty his purse truly is.
