SYLLEPSIS


Meaning of SYLLEPSIS in English

— sylleptic /si lep"tik/ , adj. — sylleptically , adv.

/si lep"sis/ , n. , pl. syllepses /-seez/ . Gram.

the use of a word or expression to perform two syntactic functions, esp. 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. Cf. zeugma .

[ 1570-80; syllepsis sýllepsis, equiv. to syl- SYL- + leb- (var. s. of lambánein to take) + -sis -SIS ]

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .