8 January 2013

solecism

[sol-uh-siz-uh m, soh-luh-]

noun

1. a nonstandard or ungrammatical usage, as unflammable and they was.
2. a breach of good manners or etiquette.
3. any error, impropriety, or inconsistency.

Origin:

1570–80; < Latin soloecismus < Greek soloikismós, equivalent to sóloik ( os ) ( Sólo ( i ) a city in Cilicia where a corrupt form of Attic Greek was spoken + -ikos -ic) + -ismos -ism

Related forms
sol·e·cist, noun.
sol·e·cis·tic, sol·e·cis·ti·cal, adjective.
sol·e·cis·ti·cal·ly, adverb.

Example sentences:

‘This is just between you and I’ rather than ‘This is just between you and me’

‘Whom shall I say is calling?’ rather than ‘Who shall I say is calling?’

Today’s aphorism

‘Breathe in, breathe out, move on’.

– Jimmy Buffett.

On this day

8 January 1935 – birth of Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll.

8 January 1947 – birthday of David Bowie, British musician and actor, born David Robert Jones.

8 January 1959 – Fidel Castro’s rebel forces take control of Cuba. Castro eventually became President and ruled the nation until 2011.