Skip to main content
hypozeugma

hypozeugma

9.9
A way of writing where several people or things share the same verb
  • noun
  • /ˌhaɪpoʊˈzɛɪɡmə/
  • Literature
translation icon : hipozeugma
  • The teacher explained hypozeugma by writing several subjects leading into a single verb on the board.

Examples

  • In her speech, she used hypozeugma to connect varying topics under one powerful conclusion.

  • Writers sometimes use hypozeugma for stylistic effect, giving clarity and emphasis to the predicate.

  • The use of hypozeugma in her speech was impressive.

  • In literature, hypozeugmas can create a powerful effect.

  • In her speech, she effectively used hypozeugma to unify multiple themes under a single compelling argument.

  • The teacher illustrated hypozeugma by demonstrating how several subjects can share one main verb during the lesson.

  • Authors often employ hypozeugma in their writing to highlight the main action while connecting various subjects.

Surface Forms

hypozeugma singular
hypozeugmas plural

Morphology

hypozeugma = zeugma (opaque) = hypo + zeugma

Although it is built from the classical prefix hypo- and the noun zeugma, the technical rhetorical meaning is not directly recoverable for most learners from those parts.

Etymology

Hypozeugma comes from Greek parts hypo- meaning 'under' and zeugma meaning 'a yoke', like the English word 'yoke'. A helpful image is a yoke joining several animals under one beam, and that's why a hypozeugma joins several subjects under a single 'verb' in a sentence.