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Glite Dictionary
zeugma

zeugma

1 9.9
One word used with two different words in the same sentence to make it funny or strong
  • noun
  • /ˈzjuːɡmə/
  • Literature
translation icon : zeugma
  • The writer skillfully used zeugma in her poem, connecting emotions and actions in a surprising way.

Examples

  • "Grammatically, the adjective modifies 'es,' but semantically I perceive it as a zeugma modifying all three nominal verbs."

    Academic text (1995)

  • I have designed several questions for "The Paradise of Bachelors" to show students how Melville uses particular devices as part of his satirical and contrastive (juxtapositional) techniques: syncrisis, bathos, zeugma.

    Academic text (1997)

  • In his speech, the politician employed zeugma to effectively mix humor with serious topics.

  • The comedian's clever use of zeugma made the audience laugh while also provoking thought.

Synonyms

figure of speech
vszeugma
20 3.7

Words used to mean something different to create a strong picture

applies one word to several nouns joining different ideas for rhetorical effect

Surface Forms

zeugma singular
zeugmas plural

Etymology

The word zeugma comes from the Greek root zeug- meaning 'yoke' or 'join', like a wooden yoke that links two animals. So a zeugma 'yokes' one action word to two different words, as in 'He stole my heart and my wallet', which is why it links different ideas with a single action word and often sounds clever or funny.