Etymologiae, Book I, chapters 33-34: De soloecismis to De vitiis
Chapter XXXIII. On solecisms A solecism is an inconsistent composition of several words among themselves, as a barbarism is the corruption of one word. For words joined not by the right law make a solecism, as if someone should say inter nobis for inter nos, or date veniam sceleratorum for sceleratis. The solecism is named from the Cilicians, who, setting out from the city of Soli, now called Pompeiopolis, when they dwelt among others, confounded their own tongue and theirs faultily and inconsistently, and gave the name to the solecism. Hence also those who speak similarly are said to make solecisms. Among the poets a solecism is called a scheme whenever it is found in a verse made by necessity of the metre. When no necessity is found, the fault of the solecism remains.
A solecism occurs in two ways: either through the parts of speech or through the accidents. Through the parts of speech, if we put one part for another, for example if we apply prepositions to adverbs.
It occurs through the accidents, that is, through those things which befall the parts, for example through qualities, genders and numbers, figures and cases. Through all these, then, solecisms are made, as Donatus set forth. They are made besides in very many ways.
For Lucilius spoke of a hundred kinds of solecisms, all of which he who is eager to hold the rule of right speaking ought rather to avoid than to follow.
Chapter XXXIV. On faults Faults among the grammarians are those which we ought to guard against in speech. They are these: barbarism, solecism, acyrologia, cacemphaton, and the rest. Barbarism is the corruption of one word, as if someone should lengthen the third syllable in ignoscere. Solecism is a faulty composition of words, as if someone should say inter hominibus for inter homines. Acyrologia is an improper expression, as: “Let it be allowed the fearing man to hope.” For it is proper to the fearing man to dread, not to hope; and: “In the grassy (gramineo) field.” It is proper to say graminosus of a field, not gramineus. Cacemphaton is an obscene expression or one sounding badly composed. Obscene, as: “Roused in spirit by these words.” Badly composed, as: “It is pleasant to go, and to the Doric camp.” For it was a bad composition to begin with the syllable with which the preceding word had ended. Pleonasmos is the superfluous addition of one word, as: “Thus far the tilling of the fields and the stars of heaven.” For the stars are nowhere but in heaven. Perissologia is the superfluous addition of many words, as: “Let Reuben live and not die”; since to live is nothing other than not to die. Macrologia is long-windedness, embracing unnecessary things, as: “The envoys, having gained no peace, returned home back whence they had come.” Tautologia is speaking the same thing, as: “If the fates preserve the man, if he feeds on the ethereal air, and does not yet lie among the cruel shades …” For all that is repeated is one thing, but announced in frequent speech. Ellipsis is a defect of expression in which necessary words are lacking, as: “Whose quiver of gold”; for erat is wanting. Tapinosis is lowliness, weakening the state of a great thing by words, as: “Here and there swimmers appear in the vast whirlpool.” He put gurges for mare (sea). Cacosyntheton is a faulty composition of words, as: “And with the spear reversed we tire the bullock’s back.” Amphibolia is an ambiguous expression, which occurs either through the accusative case, as that reply of Apollo to Pyrrhus: “I say that you, descendant of Aeacus, the Romans can conquer.” In which it is not certain whom he has shown in that very verse to be the victor.
It occurs also through uncertain punctuation, as: “Italy will wage a great war.”
The punctuation is uncertain, whether “a great war” or “great Italy.” It occurs also through a common verb, as: “Cato entreats, Cicero slanders, Brutus awaits, Antony disdains”; and in this ambiguity it is not shown whether they themselves entreated or slandered others, or others them.
It occurs also through homonyms, by which many things are signified by one name, as acies, when you do not add whether of iron, or of eyes, or of soldiers.