Zeugma, from Greek meaning “yoking” or “bonding,” is a figure of speech in which a word, usually a verb or an adjective, applies to more than one noun, blending together grammatically and logically different ideas.

A concise definition of Zeugma along with usage tips, an expanded explanation, and lots of examples.

Zeugma is when you use a word in a sentence once, while conveying two different meanings at the same time. Sometimes, the word is literal in one part of the sentence, but figurative in another; other times, it’s just two completely separate meanings for the word.

2021年10月14日 · The zeugma is an interesting literary device that uses one word to refer to two or more different things in more than one way. Zeugmas will either confuse the reader or inspire them to think more deeply, but if they're well written they will achieve the latter. Learn more about zeugmas through several examples.

2023年11月22日 · Zeugma is a rhetorical device that takes advantage of these ambiguities for literary effect. In creative writing, zeugma can create interesting juxtapositions, unexpected connections, and moments of humor.

2020年5月21日 · This literary device is called a “zeugma,” from the ancient Greek and Latin words for yoking together. As this word origin suggests, zeugmas connect two different meanings of the same word together, setting them side-by-side to surprise, delight, or confuse audiences.

A figure of speech in which one verb or preposition joins two objects within the same phrase, often with different meanings. For example, “I left my heart —and my suitcase —in San Francisco.” Zeugma occurs in William Shakespeare’s “Fear No More the Heat o’ the Sun”: “Golden Lads, and Girles all must / As chimney-sweepers come to dust.”

Define zeugma in literature: In summation, the term zeugma is defined as a figure of speech that involves using a single word in order to join together more than one word or phrase. Final Example: The famous early-American writer Henry David Thoreau utilized zeugma in his philosophical text Walden.

Zeugma is an interesting literary device that refers to examples of words with different meanings or interpretations. The word in question is usually a verb or adjective, although it is also sometimes a noun. When used well, it can create thoughtful, creative, and sometimes funny sentences and images.

2023年8月21日 · Dive into the world of zeugma with our clear definition, fascinating history, literary examples, and tips for using this versatile figure of speech.