antanaclasis

[ ant-an-uh-klas-is ]

noun

, Rhetoric.

1. a form of speech in which a key word is repeated and used in a different, and sometimes contrary, way for a play on words, as in The craft of a politician is to appear before the public without craft.

Word History and Origins

Origin of antanaclasis¹

1640–50; < Greek antanáklasis literally, echo, reflection, equivalent to ant- ant- + ana- ana- + klásis a breaking, bending ( -clase, -clasis )

Example Sentences

In Cicero's treatise on Oratory, a variety of instances of the antanaclasis are quoted, and highly praised by him for their wit.

From Project Gutenberg