Posted on 11/22/2012 5:08:40 AM PST by secret garden
In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day".
syllepsis \sə-'lep-səs\ noun
1. the use of a word in the same grammatical relation to two adjacent words in the context with one literal and the other metaphorical in sense
2. 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.
Example sentences:
Rend your heart, and not your garments.
--Joel 2:13
You held your breath and the door for me.
--Alanis Morissette
"Fix the problem, not the blame."
--Dave Weinbaum
Etymology:
157080; Medieval Latin syllēpsis - Greek sýllēpsis, equivalent to syl- syl- + lēb- (variant stem of lambánein to take) + -sis -sis
The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day. The Review threads are linked for your edification. ;-)
Practice makes perfect.....post on....
Review Thread One: Word For The Day, Thursday 11/14/02: Raffish
Review Thread Two: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/14/03: Roister
Review Thread Three: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/28/03: Obdurate
WFB's attempt to emulate us ; ) No pushing at the door please!
My evil step’s son used to say they were too poor to pay attention. A+ for you.
Thank you!
We used to say that as teens when we wanted to buy a fashionable (read: expensive) article of clothing, or go somewhere pricey and didn’t have the money.
I’m off through the woods to my neighbor’s house-back later...
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