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sylleptically

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syl⋅lep⋅sis

[si-lep-sis]
–noun, plural -ses [-seez] . Grammar.
the use of a word or expression to perform two syntactic functions, esp. to modify 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.
Compare zeugma.


Origin:
1570–80; < ML syllēpsis < Gk sýllēpsis, equiv. to syl- syl- + lēb- (var. s. of lambánein to take) + -sis -sis


syl⋅lep⋅tic [si-lep-tik] , adjective
syl⋅lep⋅ti⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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