Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Solecism
Sol′e-cism
,Noun.
[F.
solécisme
, L. soloecismus
, Gr. σολοικισμός
, fr. σολοικίζειν
to speak or write incorrectly, fr. σόλοικοσ
speaking incorrectly, from the corruption of the Attic dialect among the Athenian colonists of Σόλοι
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.
Caesar, 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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Solecism
SOL'ECISM
,Noun.
1.
Impropriety in language, or a gross deviation from the rules of syntax; incongruity of words; want of correspondence or consistency. A barbarism may be in one word; a solecism must be of more.2.
Any unfitness, absurdity or impropriety. Cesar, by dismissing his guards and retaining his power, committed a dangerous solecism in politics.