Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun An evil speaking.
- noun A bad choice of words in writing or speaking; also, vicious pronunciation.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun Bad speaking; bad choice or use of words.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun Poor
diction or choice of words.
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Even Shakespeare might have been glad of such an opportunity to enlarge the cacology, by actual hearing, of some of his most amusing characters.
Old New England Traits George Lunt 1844
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As to prose, I don't know Addison's from Johnson's; but I will try to mend my cacology.
Life of Lord Byron, Vol. 3 (of 6) With His Letters and Journals Thomas Moore 1815
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Chambers gives several interesting words with the caco - root, eg "cacoepy", bad pronunciation, "cacology", also bad pronunciation and bad choice of words as well.
Ephems of BLB 2009
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For his part, Jermaine's continual stumping on his leadership abilities to the media in addition to the occasional cacology never helped raise his standing amongst the fan base.
Indy Cornrows 2008
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Notwithstanding the oft-repeated cacology to the effect that we shall not be handing over conduct of our foreign affairs to the EU, we shall discover soon enough that that is a lot of rot and that not only is the new EU Foreign Minister gadding about speaking for all of us at the UN and gaily signing Treaties on ‘our behalf’ but that person will also, as Article 9e of the Treaty of Lisbon tells us, be in charge of our defence:
Archive 2008-01-27 2008
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Notwithstanding the oft-repeated cacology to the effect that we shall not be handing over conduct of our foreign affairs to the EU, we shall discover soon enough that that is a lot of rot and that not only is the new EU Foreign Minister gadding about speaking for all of us at the UN and gaily signing Treaties on ‘our behalf’ but that person will also, as Article 9e of the Treaty of Lisbon tells us, be in charge of our defence:
epeolatrist commented on the word cacology
a wonderfully ironic word meaning "a poor choice of words"
October 29, 2008
qms commented on the word cacology
Debating is what they will claim
But prove themselves strangers to shame.
Not rational colloquy
But fevered cacology -
They'll boast, boldly lie, and defame.
October 5, 2015