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syllepsis

syl·lep·sis
S s

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [si-lep-sis]
    • /sɪˈlɛp sɪs/
    • /sɪlˈepsɪs/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [si-lep-sis]
    • /sɪˈlɛp sɪs/

Definitions of syllepsis word

  • noun plural syllepsis 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 of are in Neither he nor we are willing. 1
  • noun syllepsis (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 0
  • noun syllepsis a grammatical construction in which a single word is used in a syntactic relationship with two or more words in the same sentence, though it can agree with only one of them in gender, number, or case (Ex.: either they or I am wrong) 0

Information block about the term

Origin of syllepsis

First appearance:

before 1570
One of the 33% oldest English words
1570-80; < Medieval Latin syllēpsis < Greek sýllēpsis, equivalent to syl- syl- + lēb- (variant stem of lambánein to take) + -sis -sis

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Syllepsis

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

syllepsis popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 46% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
According to our data about 55% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.

syllepsis usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Top questions with syllepsis

  • what is syllepsis?

See also

Matching words

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