tmesis
9.9
The act of putting a word inside another word to make it sound stronger
- noun
- /ˈtmē-səs/
- Specialized
:
tmesis
- By inserting the word 'incredible' in the phrase 'un-freaking-believable,' the author employed tmesis for dramatic effect.
Examples
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In the phrase "abso-bloody-lutely," the word tmesis is used to emphasize the affirmation.
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The term tmesis means "cutting," but we must then ask, what or who cleaves the image in two?
Academic text (2017) -
- Tmesis.
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Tmesis.
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Tmesis.
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Tmesis.
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The poet used tmesis in the line "this is not just a drill, but really a serious test," to create emphasis.
Surface Forms
Etymology
Tmesis comes from an old Greek word temnein meaning 'to cut'. Think of it as cutting a word and putting another word into the middle, as in 'abso-bloody-lutely', which is why tmesis names this way of splitting a word to add emphasis.
