- Definition: A car crash between absolutely and positively
- Portmanteau: absolutely + positively
- Malapropism*: absolutely, positively
Source: XKCD Wiki / Neil Gaiman's Anansi Boys
* Note: Unless this portmanteau is used incorrectly towards it's listed malapropisms, it would not qualify as a malamanteau.
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Remember, a malamanteau is the combination of a malapropism (similar sounding word) and a portmanteau (a combination of two words)
Malamanteau: Irregardless
- Definition: To be irrespective, regardless?
- Portmanteau: irrespective + regardless
- Malapropism: irrespective and regardless
Source: Language Log - Lingustics in Comics
- Portmanteau: irrespective + regardless
- Malapropism: irrespective and regardless
Source: Language Log - Lingustics in Comics
Malamanteau: Insinuendos
- Definition: To insinuate an innuendo?
- Portmanteau: innuendo + insinuation
- Malapropism: innuendo and insinuation
Source: The Boston Globe - One-day wonder
- Portmanteau: innuendo + insinuation
- Malapropism: innuendo and insinuation
Source: The Boston Globe - One-day wonder
Malamanteau: Bewilderness
- Definition: To be bewildered and in the wilderness?
- Portmanteau: bewildered + wilderness
- Malapropism: bewildered and wilderness
Source: The Boston Globe - One-day wonder
- Portmanteau: bewildered + wilderness
- Malapropism: bewildered and wilderness
Source: The Boston Globe - One-day wonder
Malamanteau: Overflowded
- Definition: To be crowded and overflowed?
- Portmanteau: overflowed + crowded
- Malapropism: overflowed and crowded
Source: Metafilter - How to define this language mistake
- Portmanteau: overflowed + crowded
- Malapropism: overflowed and crowded
Source: Metafilter - How to define this language mistake
Malamanteau: Exorberant
- Definition: To spend too much money and be happy about it
- Portmanteau: exorbitant + exuberant
- Malapropism: exorbitant and exuberant
Source: Metafilter - How to define this language mistake
- Portmanteau: exorbitant + exuberant
- Malapropism: exorbitant and exuberant
Source: Metafilter - How to define this language mistake
Malamanteau: Spontanimosity
- Definition: To hate someone when you instantly meet them
- Portmanteau: spontaneous + animosity
- Malapropism: spontaneous and animosity
Source: Metafilter - How to define this language mistake
- Portmanteau: spontaneous + animosity
- Malapropism: spontaneous and animosity
Source: Metafilter - How to define this language mistake
Malamanteau: Portmanpropism
- Definition: Combination of a portmanteau and a malapropism
- Portmanteau: portmanteau + malapropism
- Malapropism: portmantea and malapropism
Source: Metafilter - How to define this language mistake
Note: Again if these portmanteau neologisms are just used correctly, they are not being used as malapropisms and therefore wouldn't be malamanteaus.
- Portmanteau: portmanteau + malapropism
- Malapropism: portmantea and malapropism
Source: Metafilter - How to define this language mistake
Note: Again if these portmanteau neologisms are just used correctly, they are not being used as malapropisms and therefore wouldn't be malamanteaus.
Malamanteau: Ambiviolent
- Definition: To be both violent and unsure
- Portmanteau: ambivalent + violent
- Malapropism: ambivalent and violent
Malamanteau - XKCD Wiki
(Note: ambiviolent would only qualify as a malamanteau if it was used as a malapropism in place of ambivalent or violent, not if it was used intentionally to mean "I can't decide who to kill first")
- Portmanteau: ambivalent + violent
- Malapropism: ambivalent and violent
Malamanteau - XKCD Wiki
(Note: ambiviolent would only qualify as a malamanteau if it was used as a malapropism in place of ambivalent or violent, not if it was used intentionally to mean "I can't decide who to kill first")
Malamanteau: Misunderestimate
- Definition: To both misunderstand and underestimate something
- Portmanteau: misunderstand + underestimate
- Malapropism: misunderstand and underestimate
Malamanteau - XKCD Wiki
- Portmanteau: misunderstand + underestimate
- Malapropism: misunderstand and underestimate
Malamanteau - XKCD Wiki
Malamanteau: Mal-manteau
- Definition: The outfit that the character Mal wears on the show Firefly
- Portmanteau: Mal + manteau
- Malapropism: malamanteau
Source: XKCD Forums, user iamed2
- Portmanteau: Mal + manteau
- Malapropism: malamanteau
Source: XKCD Forums, user iamed2
Malamanteau: Snowclone
Snowclone
- Definition: Clone of someone made out of snow
- Portmanteau: snow + clone
- Malapropism: snowcone
Source: XKCD Forums, user blumdude
- Definition: Clone of someone made out of snow
- Portmanteau: snow + clone
- Malapropism: snowcone
Source: XKCD Forums, user blumdude
Malamanteau: Portmantraction
- Definition: Combination of two words (portmanteau)
- Portmanteau: portmanteau? + contraction
- Malapropism: portmanteau
Sources: Homestar Runner Wiki, XKCD Forums, user csours
Note: Technically a portmantraction might just be a grammatical error, not actually a portmanteau, since it uses portmanteau as the first part of it's portmanteau.
But it's still noteworthy in that it was used incorrectly in the place of portmanteau, and it clearly combines portmanteau and contraction.
- Portmanteau: portmanteau? + contraction
- Malapropism: portmanteau
Sources: Homestar Runner Wiki, XKCD Forums, user csours
Note: Technically a portmantraction might just be a grammatical error, not actually a portmanteau, since it uses portmanteau as the first part of it's portmanteau.
But it's still noteworthy in that it was used incorrectly in the place of portmanteau, and it clearly combines portmanteau and contraction.
Malamanteau: Blogosfear
- Definition: Fear of blogs
- Portmanteau: blog + fear
- Malapropism: Blogosphere
Source: XKCD Forums, user RabbitWho
- Portmanteau: blog + fear
- Malapropism: Blogosphere
Source: XKCD Forums, user RabbitWho
Malamanteau: Miscommunicado
- Definition: To miscommunicate something while out of communication
- Portmanteau: miscommunicate + incommunicado
- Malapropism: miscommunicate and incommunicado
Malamanteau - XKCD Wiki
- Portmanteau: miscommunicate + incommunicado
- Malapropism: miscommunicate and incommunicado
Malamanteau - XKCD Wiki
Malamanteau: Flustrate
- Definition: To be both flustered and frustrated
- Portmanteau: fluster + frustrate
- Malapropism: fluster and frustrate
Source: Wordnick - Malamanteau
- Portmanteau: fluster + frustrate
- Malapropism: fluster and frustrate
Source: Wordnick - Malamanteau
Malamanteau: Masillerterate
Definition: What the stock market crash did to the economy
Portmanteau: masil + ilterate
Malapropism: obliterate
Source: Personal Money Store: Malamanteau | Defining a new word
Portmanteau: masil + ilterate
Malapropism: obliterate
Source: Personal Money Store: Malamanteau | Defining a new word
Malamanteau: Misconscrew
- Definition: Misconstrue and also screw up
- Portmanteau: misconstrue + screw
- Malapropism: misconstrue
Source: Wordnick - Malamanteau
- Portmanteau: misconstrue + screw
- Malapropism: misconstrue
Source: Wordnick - Malamanteau
Malamanteau: Mallomanteau
- Definition: A mixture of a mallomar and any other dessert
- Portmanteau: marshmallow + portmanteau
- Malapropism: malamanteau
Source: Wordnick - Malamanteau
- Portmanteau: marshmallow + portmanteau
- Malapropism: malamanteau
Source: Wordnick - Malamanteau
Malamanteau
A malamanteau is a neologism for a portmanteau created by incorrectly combining a malapropism with a neologism. It itself is a portmanteau of malapropism and portmanteau.
The word was most famously defined in an XKCD comic and caused significant disruption in the wikipedia community.
It was most prominently featured as news on Slashdot
The wikipedia entry for malamanteau is currently under debate.
Notes:
- Not all malamanteaus are by nature neologisms. They simply need to be a combined word (portmanteau) that is used incorrectly in place of another correct word (malapropism).
- A malamanteau must have it's own separate meaning as a combined word (portmanteau)
- A malamanteau must sound similar enough to another word to be used incorrectly (malapropism)
Either way we'll post them if they sound good! :)
The word was most famously defined in an XKCD comic and caused significant disruption in the wikipedia community.
It was most prominently featured as news on Slashdot
The wikipedia entry for malamanteau is currently under debate.
Notes:
- Not all malamanteaus are by nature neologisms. They simply need to be a combined word (portmanteau) that is used incorrectly in place of another correct word (malapropism).
- A malamanteau must have it's own separate meaning as a combined word (portmanteau)
- A malamanteau must sound similar enough to another word to be used incorrectly (malapropism)
Either way we'll post them if they sound good! :)
Malapropism
A malapropism is the misuse of a word which sounds like another correct word.
Examples:
Commiserate versus. Commensurate
Persecuted vs. Prosecuted
Elevate vs. Alleviate
Examples:
Commiserate versus. Commensurate
Persecuted vs. Prosecuted
Elevate vs. Alleviate
Portmanteau
A portmanteau is a blend of two words and their meanings into one new word.
Examples:
Smoke + Fog = Smog
Wiki + Encyclopedia = Wikipedia
Spiced + Ham = Spam
Examples:
Smoke + Fog = Smog
Wiki + Encyclopedia = Wikipedia
Spiced + Ham = Spam
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