Pronunciation: ˌ ka-t ə - ' kr ē -s ə s
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -chre · ses \ - ˌ s ē z \
Etymology: Latin, from Greek katachr ē sis misuse, from katachr ē sthai to use up, misuse, from kata- + chr ē sthai to use
Date: 1550
1 : use of the wrong word for the context
2 : use of a forced and especially paradoxical figure of speech (as blind mouths )
– cat · a · chres · tic \ - ' kres-tik \ or cat · a · chres · ti · cal \ -ti-k ə l \ adjective
– cat · a · chres · ti · cal · ly \ -ti-k( ə -)l ē \ adverb