Online Encyclopedia
Syllepsis
Syllepsis is a figure of speech in which one word simultaneously modifies two or more other words such that the modification must be understood differently with respect to each modified word. This creates a semantic incongruity which is often humorous.
Examples:
- He leaned heavily on the podium and stale jokes.
- He lost his hat and his temper.
- She went home in a flood of tears and a sedan chair -- Charles Dickens
- He said, as he hastened to put out the wine,
- his cigar and the cat and the lamps... - Flanders and Swann, "Madeira M'Dear"
- ...by raising her glass,
- her courage, her eyes and his hopes. - ibid.
- ...she made no reply,
- up her mind, and a dash for the door. - ibid.
- You held your breath and the door for me. -- Alanis Morissette, in "Head Over Feet":
- ... and covered themselves with dust and glory. Mark Twain, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer"
Last updated: 02-27-2005 12:10:35