syllepsis
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syl·lep·sis
(sĭ-lĕp′sĭs)n. pl. syl·lep·ses (-sēz)
A verbal construction in which a word governs two or more other words but agrees in number, gender, or case with only one, or has a different meaning when applied to each of the words, as in He lost his coat and his temper.
[Late Latin syllēpsis, from Greek sullēpsis : sun-, syn- + lēpsis, a taking (from lambanein, to take).]
syl·lep′tic (-lĕp′tĭk) adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
syllepsis
(sɪˈlɛpsɪs)n, pl -ses (-siːz)
1. (Grammar) (in grammar or rhetoric) the use of a single sentence construction in which a verb, adjective, etc is made to cover two syntactical functions, as the verb form have in she and they have promised to come
2. (Rhetoric) (in grammar or rhetoric) the use of a single sentence construction in which a verb, adjective, etc is made to cover two syntactical functions, as the verb form have in she and they have promised to come
3. (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) another word for zeugma
[C16: from Late Latin, from Greek sullēpsis, from sul- syn- + lēpsis a taking, from lambanein to take]
sylˈleptic, sylˈleptical adj
sylˈleptically adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
syl•lep•sis
(sɪˈlɛp sɪs)n., pl. -ses (-sēz).
the use of a word or expression to perform two syntactic functions, esp. to modify or govern two or more words of which at least one does not agree in number, case, or gender, as the use of are in Neither he nor we are willing.
[1570–80; < Medieval Latin syllēpsis < Greek sýllēpsis literally, taking together < syllambánein (see syllable)]
syl•lep′tic (-tɪk) adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
syllepsis
the use of a word or expression to perform two syntactic functions, especially to apply to two or more words of which at least one does not agree in logic, number, case, or gender, as in Pope’s line “See Pan with flocks, with fruits Pomona crowned.” — sylleptic, sylleptical, adj.
See also: Grammarthe use of a word with the same syntactic relation to two adjacent words, in a literal sense with one and a metaphorical sense with the other, as in “the ships collided, and the sailors and many dreams were drowned.” — sylleptic, adj.
See also: Rhetoric and Rhetorical Devices-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
syllepsis
1. A construction in which a word applied to two other words really only matches one of them or matches each in different ways, such as in “She lost her umbrella and her way.”
2. Use of one word linked in different senses to two statements, usually used for its comic effect.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
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| Noun | 1. | syllepsis - use of a word to govern two or more words though agreeing in number or case etc. with only one zeugma - use of a word to govern two or more words though appropriate to only one; "`Mr. Pickwick took his hat and his leave' is an example of zeugma" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
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