Word Study
malapropos
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Adjective malapropos has 1 sense
- malapropos(a = adj.all) Array - of an inappropriate or incorrectly applied nature; Array Antonym: apropos
Adverbial malapropos has 1 sense
- malapropos(r = adv.all) inopportunely - at an inconvenient time; "he arrived inopportunely just as we sat down for dinner"; "she answered malapropos"
CIDE DICTIONARY
malapropos, a. & adv. [F. mal à propos; mal evil + à propos to the purpose.].
Unseasonable or unseasonably; unsuitable or unsuitably. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
malapropos, adv., adj., & n.
--adv. inopportunely; inappropriately.
--adj. inopportune; inappropriate.
--n. something inappropriately said, done, etc.
--adv. inopportunely; inappropriately.
--adj. inopportune; inappropriate.
--n. something inappropriately said, done, etc.
Etymology
F mal {agrave} propos f. mal ill: see APROPOS
THESAURUS
malapropos
bad, futile, ill-adapted, ill-advised, ill-assorted, ill-chosen, ill-considered, ill-fitted, ill-matched, ill-seasoned, ill-sorted, ill-suited, ill-timed, impolitic, improper, inadmissible, inadvisable, inapplicable, inapposite, inappropriate, inapt, inauspicious, incongruous, inconvenient, inept, inexpedient, infelicitous, inopportune, intempestive, intrusive, irrelevant, late, mal a propos, maladjusted, misjoined, mismatched, mismated, misplaced, mistimed, off base, out of character, out of joint, out of keeping, out of line, out of phase, out of place, out of proportion, out of season, out of time, out of tune, premature, too late, too soon, unadapted, unapt, unbecoming, unbefitting, undesirable, undue, unfavorable, unfit, unfitted, unfitting, unfortunate, unhandy, unhappy, unlucky, unmeet, unprofitable, unpropitious, unqualified, unready, unripe, unseasonable, unseemly, unsuitable, unsuited, untimely, untoward, unwise, wrong
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