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Catachresis.

Catachresis in Latine is called Abusio, and it is a forme of speech wherby the speaker or writer wanting a proper word, borroweth the next or the likest to the thing that he would signifie. An example: They build a horse by Pallas art divine: here the Poet traduceth that to a beast, which is proper to the making
Deut.3.
of a house. An example of Moses. “The drincke the pure blood of the grapes,” Prov.30. here the prophet putteth this word blood for juyce. Salomen by this figure nameth “the two daughters of the horsleech.” Psal.127. Also it is sayd in the Psalme. “Let my right hand forget her cunning” Psa.1.: likewise the Prophet sayth, “The sword shall devoure” Ione.46..

By the licence of this figure we give names to many things which lacke names, as when we say, the water runne, which is improper, for to run, is proper to those creatures which have feete, and not water which hath none. By this forme we attribute hornes to a snaile, and feete to a stoole, & so likewise to many other things which do lacke their proper names.

To make supply where a word wasteth
The use of this figure is chiefly to serve in time of neede, as to yeeld a necessarie supply for the want of a proper word.

The Caution.

1. Not to far fetcht.
This observation is to be regarded, that we fetch not the
2. Not to be used too oft.
translation too farre off, or that which is much unlike. Secondly that we use it not oft.

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