What is the origin of the word syllepse?
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From ancient Greek
sullepsis
(to take together), syllepsis is doubly devious.
Doubly, because it has two forms called by specialists
grammatical
syllepsis
and
meaning syllepsis
.
The first designates a chord achieved, not according to the strict rule of gender or number, but according to logic.
Read alsoTen figures of speech to shine on a daily basis
She is often at fault: "
A kind of crétin
" (whereas the name species is feminine);
"
She looks furious
" (although the name air is masculine);
“
Most of the guests have arrived
” (while most are singular).
But if an author uses it to create surprise or showcase an idea, it is considered a figure of speech.
Examples: "
A person told me one day that he had great joy and confidence when he left confession
" (Pascal) or: "
In the crowd of novelists, who to remember?
Many appeared, then disappeared
”(Maurice Nadeau).
The syllepsis of meaning from the pen of Molière
The second is the use in a sentence or a text of the literal meaning and the figurative meaning of the same word.
Again it all depends on who uses it!
From the pen of Molière:
"And what language do you want to use with me?"
[...]
- Parbleu of the tongue that I have in the mouth. "
it is superb.
In other cases, it is less: "
What is the height for a rooster?
Have goose bumps
”or“
He often loses his head.
Who is it ?
A pétanque player
”.