The Rivals (1775) by Richard Sheridan
Act I Scene II
Sir ANTHONY Why, Mrs. Malaprop, in moderation now, what would you have a woman know?
Mrs. MALAPROP Observe me, Sir Anthony. I would by no means wish a daughter of mine to be a progeny (proponent) of learning; I don't think so much learning becomes a young woman; for instance, I would never let her meddle with Greek, or Hebrew, or algebra, or simony (simony, which refers to the corrupt practice of selling religious offices does not fit in the context), or fluxions, or paradoxes, or such inflammatory branches of learning--neither would it be necessary for her to handle any of your mathematical, astronomical, diabolical instruments.--But, Sir Anthony, I would send her, at nine years old, to a boarding-school, in order to learn a little ingenuity and artifice. Then, sir, she should have a supercilious (superfluous) knowledge in accounts;--and as she grew up, I would have her instructed in geometry (geography), that she might know something of the contagious (contiguous) countries;--but above all, Sir Anthony, she should be mistress of orthodoxy, that she might not mis-spell, and mis-pronounce words so shamefully as girls usually do; and likewise that she might reprehend (comprehend) the true meaning of what she is saying. This, Sir Anthony, is what I would have a woman know;--and I don't think there is a superstitious (supercilious) article in it.
Sir ANTHONY Well, well, Mrs. Malaprop, I will dispute the point no further with you; though I must confess, that you are a truly moderate and polite arguer, for almost every third word you say is on my side of the question. But, Mrs. Malaprop, to the more important point in debate--you say you have no objection to my proposal?
What is malapropism? Why do you think Sheridan assigns such abundant malapropisms to Mrs Malaprop?