Word of the Day

Wednesday, May 26, 1999

tmesis

\TMEE-sis\ , noun;

In grammar and rhetoric, the separation of the parts of a compound word, now generally done for humorous effect; for example, "what place soever" instead of "whatsoever place," or "abso-bloody-lutely."

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Quotes:

If on the first, how heinous e'er it be,
To win thy after-love I pardon thee.

-- Shakespeare, Richard II

His income-tax return, he remarked, was the "most rigged-up marole" he'd ever seen.

-- Frederic Packard,

In two words, im possible.

-- Samuel Goldwyn,

Origin:

Tmesis is from Greek tmesis, "a cutting," from temnein, "to cut."