Advertisement

Advertisement

metalepsis

[ met-uh-lep-sis ]

noun

, Rhetoric.
, plural met·a·lep·ses [met-, uh, -, lep, -seez].
  1. the use of metonymy to replace a word already used figuratively.


Discover More

Other Words From

  • meta·leptic meta·lepti·cal adjective
  • meta·lepti·cal·ly adverb
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of metalepsis1

1580–90; < Latin < Greek metálēpsis, equivalent to meta- meta- + lēp-, variant stem of lambánein to take + -sis -sis
Discover More

Example Sentences

Indeed, it is the most common form of metalepsis, designed to confuse the audience.

Metalepsis carries us so far, but synecdoche must supplement it.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


metal detectormetal-free phthalocyanine