Category:Solecism

Sol"e*cism, n.Etym: [f. solécisme, l. soloecismus, gr. soloikismo`s, Fr. soloiki`zein to speak or write incorrectly, fr. so`loikos Speaking incorrectly, from the corruption of the attic dialect among The athenian colonists of so`loi in cilicia.]

1. An impropriety or incongruity of language in the combination of Words or parts of a sentence; esp., deviation from the idiom of a Language or from the rules of syntax. A barbarism may be in one word; a solecism must be of more. Johnson.

2. Any inconsistency, unfitness, absurdity, or impropriety, as in Deeds or manners. Cæsar, by dismissing his guards and retaining his power, committed a Dangerous solecism in politics. C. Middleton. The idea of having committed the slightest solecism in politeness was Agony to him. Sir w. Scott.

Syn. -- barbarism; impropriety; absurdity.