zeugma

[ zoog-muh ]

noun

, Grammar, Rhetoric.

1. the use of a word to modify or govern two or more words when it is appropriate to only one of them or is appropriate to each but in a different way, as in to wage war and peace or On his fishing trip, he caught three trout and a cold. Compare syllepsis.

zeugma

/ zjuːɡˈmætɪk; ˈzjuːɡmə /

noun

1. a figure of speech in which a word is used to modify or govern two or more words although appropriate to only one of them or making a different sense with each, as in the sentence Mr. Pickwick took his hat and his leave (Charles Dickens)

Derived Forms

• zeugˈmatically, adverb
• zeugmatic, adjective

Other Words From

• zeug·mat·ic [zoog-, mat, -ik], adjective
• zeug·mati·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of zeugma¹

First recorded in 1515–25; from Greek zeûgma “a yoking, bond,” equivalent to zeug(nýnai) “to yoke ¹ ” + -ma noun suffix of result

Word History and Origins

Origin of zeugma¹

C16: via Latin from Greek: a yoking, from zeugnunai to yoke

Example Sentences

The stele was illegally excavated near the ancient city of Zeugma, in what is near Gaziantep, in present-day southeastern Turkey, the police said.

From Seattle Times

Turkish archaeologists discovered the mosaic 20 years ago during an excavation of the old city of Zeugma, founded by one of Alexander the Great’s generals, near the modern city of Gaziantep.

From Reuters

The old city of Zeugma, on the Euphrates river, flourished under Greek and then Roman rule before it was destroyed in war in the 3rd century AD.

From Reuters

On Saturday, the pieces were put on exhibit at the Zeugma Mosaic Museum in Gaziantep in a ceremony to celebrate their return, before which a song composed to celebrate the homecoming of the mosaic pieces was played by a harp artist.

From Reuters

Archaeologists discovered the mosaic 20 years ago while excavating the remains of the city of Zeugma, founded by a general of Alexander the Great and destroyed in the 3rd Century.

From BBC