anacoluthon

[ an-uh-kuh-loo-thon ]

noun

, Rhetoric.

, plural an·a·co·lu·tha [an-, uh, -k, uh, -, loo, -th, uh].

1. a construction involving a break in grammatical sequence, as

   It makes me so—I just get angry.

2. an instance of anacoluthia.

anacoluthon

/ ˌænəkəˈluːθɒn /

noun

1. rhetoric a construction that involves the change from one grammatical sequence to another within a single sentence; an example of anacoluthia

Word History and Origins

Origin of anacoluthon¹

1700–10; < Greek anakólouthon, neuter of anakólouthos not following, equivalent to an- an- ¹ + akólouthos marching together ( a- together + kolouth-, gradational variant of keleuth- road, march + -os adj. suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of anacoluthon¹

C18: from Late Latin, from Greek anakolouthon, from anakolouthos not consistent, from an- + akolouthos following

Example Sentences

In speaking, he is prone to anacoluthon – sentences whose grammar collapses – and reflexive repetition.

From The Guardian

Borisimus has an instinctive grasp of rhetorical devices, such as digressio and anacoluthon, that lesser mortals such as myself have spent a lifetime learning.

From The Guardian

It is in writers of great mental vivacity—more taken up with the thought than with the mode of its expression—that we may expect to find anacolutha most frequently.

From Project Gutenberg

C. L. N. A. I. J. The anacoluthon in line 3, and the missing rhyme before the burden, in line 4, are characteristic of Khayyam.

From Project Gutenberg

“Leo Steinberg told me anacoluthon referred to me,” said Ms. Schnabel, while guests streamed into the Hole Gallery on the Bowery, the host of her show.

From New York Times