solecism
Other forms: solecisms
Ever snore at the opera? Burp at the dinner table? Forget your mom's birthday? Probably all three, right? Well, don't worry. Instead of just screwing up, what you did was commit a solecism. Sounds kinda neat that way, huh?
The origin of solecism comes from the ancient Greek word meaning "speaking incorrectly," and solecism does have another meaning that's more specifically verbal. If you say something incorrectly, or make a grammatical error in writing, that's also a solecism. It can be just as mortifying as burping at the dinner table. Well, almost.
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a socially awkward or tactless act
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Vocabulary lists containing solecism
This satire of life in a small town is set in Gopher Prairie, Minnesota in the early 20th century.
This list covers "Self-Made Men," "I Am Prepared to Die," "Leadership During a Crisis," and "A Warrior’s Daughter."
The suffix ism is added to words to mean "the process or action of" or "the system, principle, or theory of." These four lists are arranged from easiest to most challenging. Learn them all and enjoy the feeling of optimism! Here are links to our lists in the collection: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
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