Scolecism
/ˈskɒlɪsɪzəm/noun
A grammatical error or violation of accepted usage.
Did you know?Scolecism is a rare spelling associated with solecism, while the Greek worm-root appears more securely in scientific words such as scolex, the head-like attachment organ of a tapeworm.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
σολοικισμός (soloikismós)
“A grammatical error, originally associated with the speech of foreigners or nonstandard Greek speakers.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Σόλοι (Sóloi)
“Soloi, a city in Cilicia whose inhabitants were stereotyped by Athenians as speaking faulty Greek; this is the traditional source of solecism.”
Late Greek
Greek
σολοικισμός (soloikismós)
“A fault in language or incorrect grammatical expression.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
soloecismus
“A grammatical mistake or barbarous expression.”
14th Century
Old French
solécisme
“An error in speech or grammar.”
16th Century
English
solecism
“A grammatical error; later, any breach of convention or propriety.”
Modern English
English
scolecism
“A rare variant spelling of solecism, meaning a grammatical error.”
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