Words Too Easily Confused, Set Four Quiz

Answer: Malapropism

Derived from the name of a character in Sheridan's play "The Rivals" (1775), malapropisms occur when the correct word is replaced by a similar but incorrect word such that the result is amusing. Mrs. Malaprop replaces "allegory" with "alligator" and "arrangement" with "derangement."

On "All in the Family" (1971-79), Archie Bunker often spoke of "the Women's Lubrication Movement." Richard Daley, former mayor of Chicago, once referred to "Alcoholics Unanimous."

Answer: Malamute

Similar to the Siberian Husky, the Samoyed and the Canadian Eskimo Dog, the Malamute works as a sled dog pulling slower heavier loads than racing dogs. This explains why Rear Admiral Richard Byrd took Malamutes, not Huskies, to the South Pole.

"The Malamutes were tethered and curled in the snow, while above them the Aurora shimmered and glowed." ~Linda Dowdy, "How the Malamutes Saved Christmas" (1996)

Answer: Malabar

The Coast of Malabar refers to the entirety of the coastal plain of southwest India from Goa to Kanyakumari. The name has many other uses, e.g. in Australia, elsewhere in India (a former colony; a former kingdom; a rainforest); and in Indonesia.

"Far away across the ocean, beneath an Indian star, lives a little dark-eyed maiden on the coast of Malabar." ~The Chieftans, "Coast Of Malabar" (1995).

Answer: Malachi

In the usual arrangement of the Old Testament, there are Four Major Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel) and twelve Minor Prophets (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi). Malachi may not be a proper name at all but rather the description "my messenger" in Hebrew.

"The oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi." Malachi 1:1 (English Standard Version).

Answer: Malaise

Since the 12th Century, the French term "malaise" has meant a sense that one is sick but without more specific complaint. Physicians use a report of malaise as an indicator that further medical investigation is indicated. The statement that "something doesn't feel right" is often highly significant as an early indicator of disease.

"Face it, people, there is more to your malaise than celestial mechanics. If you want to know why you feel so bad, you must look beyond universal gravitation." ~James K. Morrow.

Answer: Malahini

Also spelled "malihini," this is a Hawaiian word for someone who is new to the Islands. In contrast to "malahini" is "kamaaina" which means local or "child of the land" or someone who has lived in Hawaii for a long time.

Jack London named a boat in one of his Polynesians stories "the Malahini."

Answer: Malachite

Malachite is a copper carbonate hydroxide mineral which crystalizes in green bands. It is associated with the mining of copper and has been used to smelt copper historically. Modernly it is used to make jewelry. It is especially plentiful in the Urals where it is no longer mined.

Malachite is also known as Green Carbonate of Copper, Molochites, Mountain Green, Pilot's Stone, Peudoemerald, and Silver Peak Jade.

Answer: Malacology

Within zoology is invertebrate zoology within which is malacology which is the study of the Phylum Mollusca -- octopus, cuttlefish, squid, slugs, clams, oysters and escargot. The term entered English from the French where it derived from the Greek malakos meaning soft.

"All the world is in a snail!" ~ Roald Hoffmann, "Malacology" in The Kenyon Review (2002), pp. 42-43.

Answer: Malady

A malady is a diseased or disordered condition of the body. By analogy, it came to be used for other sorts of disorders, e.g. of an economy or a culture or a political movement. The etymology is poorly documented.

"She moved with difficulty -- I think she was lame -- I seem to remember some story about a malady of the spine." ~Willa Cather, My Antonia (1918).

Answer: Málaga

Founded by the Phoenicians in the 8th Century BC, Málaga is one of the oldest cities in the world. It is located rather luxuriously on the Costa del Sol of Andalusia in Spain. It has been ruled by Carthage, Rome, the Visigoths, the Muslims and Castille. Pablo Picasso was born in Málaga.

Don't cry for the time you lost in your life. Kiss them goodbye and see what's left. I know it's you, I know it's you. I'm blistering to winds coming in from Africa to Málaga." ~Joakim Benon and Elin Kastlander (2009).