syllepsis

[ si-lep-sis ]

noun,plural syl·lep·ses [si-lep-seez]. /sɪˈlɛp siz/. Grammar.
  1. the use of a word or expression to perform two syntactic functions, especially to modify two or more words of which at least one does not agree in number, case, or gender, as the use ofare in Neither he nor we are willing.: Compare zeugma.

Origin of syllepsis

1
1570–80; <Medieval Latin syllēpsis<Greek sýllēpsis, equivalent to syl-syl- + lēb- (variant stem of lambánein to take) + -sis-sis

Other words from syllepsis

  • syl·lep·tic [si-lep-tik], /sɪˈlɛp tɪk/, adjective
  • syl·lep·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Words Nearby syllepsis

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How to use syllepsis in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for syllepsis

syllepsis

/ (sɪˈlɛpsɪs) /


nounplural -ses (-siːz)
  1. (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. another word for zeugma

Origin of syllepsis

1
C16: from Late Latin, from Greek sullēpsis, from sul- syn- + lēpsis a taking, from lambanein to take

Derived forms of syllepsis

  • sylleptic, adjective
  • sylleptically, adverb

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