ABSTRACT
M IS UNDERSTANDINGofwordscanariseinmany
waysotherthanlyingonthepartofthespeaker ordownrightstupidityonthepartofthehearer.
Somecommonmisnnderstandingsmaybeclassifiedunder headings.
Ineither(a)thespeakeror(b)thehearer.Thewordiswell knowntobederivedfromthepopularcharacterMrs.Malaprop(Malapropos-inappropriate)inSheridan'scomedyThe Rivals.Mrs.Malapropwantstoappearwell-educatedand useslongwordswithoutknowingtheirmeaning,saying epitaphsforepithets,odorousforodiousandsoon.Ihavebeen informedthatthehousewifeusinganelectricstoveshould makefulluseoftheresidentialheat(residuaQ;andthatdiet shouldbesuitedtothedigestibilityofthefamily!Theschoolboywithapassionforaeroplanesthoughtanaviarywasa placeinwhichresearchofaviationwascarriedout;anda timidgirlsaidshedidnotlikepartiesbecauseshewasnot reallysocialist(sociable).Iheardofawomanwhowasdisproportionatelyoffendedwhenawelfareworkeradvised specialteachingforherilliterateyoungson,andangrilyproducedhermarriagelines.(Illegitimatebeingthewordshe thoughtsheheard.)Iwasmuchpuzzledwhenintheschool laboratoryIfirstsawadesiccator-aliddedjarcontaininga
water-·attracting substance and used for drying things-for I knew only the desiccated coconut in the larder at home and could not see how a jar could possibly cut any substance up into tiny pieces.
