Word for the Day: ZEUGMA

[Louis Foxwell]

ZEUGMA

noun zeug·ma \ˈzüg-mə\

hear it pronounced

the use of a word to modify or govern two or more words usually in such a manner that it applies to each in a different sense or makes sense with only one

Examples:

• "She lost her ticket and her temper."

• [My cousin] roars around on a shocking old motor bike – mustache and dignity flying in the morning breeze..." – Sinclair Lewis, Dodsworth

About the Word:

Zeugma comes from a Greek word meaning "to join." In ancient times, the city of Zeugma, which spanned the two sides of the Euphrates river in what is now part of southern Turkey, was a key trading link between the western Mediterranean and eastern Mesopotamia.

The Greek word zeugma was also applied to semantic structures that, like a physical bridge, connect two disparate words.

[left that other site]

The six color flag
Is missing indigo
Which causes the loss
Of both scientific authenticity
And an unfortunately graphic description
Of what “Dey” do on a date.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

After years of work by Obama and Kerry, both the Iran Deal and America are finished.

[xsmommy]

perfect and perfectly true. It sickens me.

[Louis Foxwell]

I was delighted to find this word and knew it would be a challenge for all you wordsmiths.
I am delighted to meet Zeugma who has been on these threads since 1998. His(?) insight is most helpful. I know we would all appreciate his responses to our efforts today. Please, Zeugma, feel free to critique our work.

My effort: The policies of Obama are as cloudy as his utopian vision.

[Honorary Serb]

That Oregon bureaucrat imposes a fine and a gag order on a family of Christian small businesspeople who refused to serve a “gay” “wedding”.

Both he and those lesbian “wives” are cackling with glee about forcing them onto the street!!!!

[Louis Foxwell]

You do indeed have a strange mind. Here is a prize for your warped wit.

[left that other site]

A suitable image! LOL!

[dblshot]

There once was a president whose dogma
From a rational stance was an enigma.
Peaceful Iranians
Need refined Uranium?
Bombs worry us and threaten Israel, a zeugma!

[Louis Foxwell]

Welcome to Word for the Day. Your presence is most opportune as I have posted a word and a turtle.

Your award is: WORDSMITH FOR THE DAY

[Louis Foxwell]

Your award:

[Louis Foxwell]

Right idea, difficult execution.

[Louis Foxwell]

You are probably correct. Zeugmas shoot cats out of gun cans.

[Louis Foxwell]

Excellent usage.

[Louis Foxwell]

You and Jack Hydrazine have much in common.

[Louis Foxwell]

For further erudition:

from: http://www.balashon.com/2007/05/zug.html

zug Reader David H. asked about the Hebrew word zug זוג, and its connection to the English words "yoke - conjugal - zeugma" (I have to admit I hadn't heard of the last one, but it has its own Wikipedia entry.) Well, there certainly is a connection. The Hebrew word meaning "pair, couple" derives from the Greek: zygon - "pair", zeugos - "a team (of oxen)". The Greek, in turn, derives from the Indo-European root *yeug, meaning "to join", from where we get all sorts of words: yoke conjugal - as well as the related jugular zeugma and zygote yoga (meaning "union") and from the related root *yu-n-g: join, joint, junction, junta, adjust, joust

[Louis Foxwell]

There you have it. An award winning post:

Second place

[Louis Foxwell]

On the right track.

Third Place

[Louis Foxwell]

Excellent.

[Louis Foxwell]

Correct.

[Louis Foxwell]

Nice. Obama, hash brown.