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Zeugma

This article is about the rhetorical concept. For other each.[5][6][7][8] This is also called semantic syllepsis. Exuses, see Zeugma (disambiguation).
ample: He took his hat and his leave. This type of gure is not grammatically incorrect, but creates its eect
i
Zeugma ( /zum/ or /zjum/; from the Ancient by seeming at rst hearing to be incorrect, by exploiting
multiple shades of meaning in a single word or phrase.
Greek , zegma, lit. a yoking together[1] ) and
syllepsis (/slpss/; from the Ancient Greek ,
Miss Bolo [] went straight home, in a ood of
sullpsis, lit. a taking together[2] ) are gures of speech
tears and a sedan-chair. (Charles Dickens, The
in which one single phrase or word joins dierent parts
Pickwick Papers, Chapter 35)
of a sentence.[3]

Give neither counsel nor salt till you are asked for
it.[9] (English proverb)

Denition

"Here Thou, great Anna! whom three Realms obey,


Dost sometimes Counsel take and sometimes
Tea. (Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock, Canto
III)

There are multiple and sometimes conicting denitions


for zeugma and syllepsis in current use. This article will
categorize the gures into four types, based on four denitions.

1.1

You are free to execute your laws and your citizens


as you see t. (William Riker, Star Trek: The Next
Generation)

Type 1

When he asked What in heaven?" she made no reply, up her mind, and a dash for the door. (Flanders
and Swann, "Have Some Madeira M'Dear")

Grammatical Syllepsis (sometimes also called zeugma):


where a single word is used in relation to two other parts
of a sentence although the word grammatically or logically applies to only one.[4]

Where the washing is not put out, nor the re, nor
the mistress. (Henry David Thoreau, Walden)

By denition, grammatical syllepsis will often be grammatically incorrect according to prescriptivist rules.
However, such solecisms are sometimes not errors but intentional constructions in which the rules of grammar are
bent by necessity or for stylistic eect.

"[They] covered themselves with dust and glory.


(Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer)
Eggs and oaths are soon broken. (English
proverb)[10]

He works his work, I mine.(Tennyson, "Ulysses")

"...a house they call the rising sun, where love and
money are made. (Dolly Parton's rendition of "The
House of the Rising Sun")

This is ungrammatical from a prescriptive grammarians


viewpoint, because works does not grammatically agree
with I, i. e. the sentence I works mine would be
ungrammatical.

"...Now when all the clowns that you have commissioned. / Have died in battle or in vain. (Bob Dylan,
"Queen Jane Approximately", Highway 61)

Sometimes the error is logical, rather than grammatical:

Then she brought the cup to each of the Company,


and bade them drink and farewell. ("The Fellowship of the Ring")

They saw lots of thunder and lightning.


Logically, they saw only the lightning.

When the meaning of a verb varies for the nouns following it, there is a standard order for the nouns. The
standard order is rst the noun taking the most prototypZeugma (often also called syllepsis, or semantic syllepsis): ical or literal meaning of the verb, followed by the noun
where a single word is used with two other parts of a sen- or nouns taking the less prototypical, or more gurative,
tence but must be understood dierently in relation to verb meanings.

1.2

Type 2

2 OTHER TYPES, AND RELATED FIGURES

The boy swallowed milk and kisses, as opposed to 2 Other types, and related gures
The boy swallowed kisses and milk. (Kelly, Bock
& Keil, 1986).[11]
There are several other denitions of zeugma, encompassing other ways in which one word in a sentence can
relate to two or more others. Even a simple construc1.3 Type 3
tion such as this is easy and comprehensible has been
called[3] a zeugma without complication, because is
The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms oers a much governs both easy and comprehensible.
broader denition for zeugma, describing a zeugma as
Specialized gures have been dened to distinguish zeugany case of parallelism and ellipsis working together so
mas with particular characteristics, such as the following
that a single word governs two or more other parts of a
gures that relate to the specic type and location of the
[12]
sentence.
governing word:
Vicit pudorem libido timorem audacia rationem
2.1
amentia. (Cicero, Pro Cluentio, VI.15)

Diazeugma

A diazeugma[15] is a zeugma where a single subject governs multiple verbs. A diazeugma where a single subject begins the sentence and controls a series of verbs
was called a disjunction (disiunctio) in the Rhetorica ad
The more usual way of phrasing this would be: Lust Herennium.[16]
conquered shame, audacity conquered fear, and madness
conquered reason. This sentence consists or three par Populus Romanus Numantiam delevit Kartaginem
allel clauses, called parallel because each has the same
sustulit Corinthum disiecit Fregellas evertit.
word order subject, verb, object. The verb conquered
(Rhetorica ad Herennium. IV. xxvii.[16] )
is a common element in each clause. The zeugma is created by removing the second and third instances of conThe Roman people destroyed Numantia,
quered. The act of removing words that still can be unrazed Carthage, demolished Corinth,
derstood in the context of the words that remain is called
and overthrew Fregellae.
ellipsis.
We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any
hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to as Histories make men wise; poets, witty; the mathsure the survival and the success of liberty.
ematics, subtle; natural philosophy, deep; moral,
Lust conquered shame; audacity, fear;
madness, reason.

grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend. (Francis


Bacon[13] ).
The more usual way of phrasing this would be: Histories make men wise, poets make them witty, the mathematics make them subtle, natural philosophy makes them
deep, moral [philosophy] makes them grave, and logic
and rhetoric make them able to contend.
Zeugmas are dened in this type 3 sense in Samuel
Johnson's 18th-century Dictionary of the English Language.[14]

1.4

Type 4

A special case of semantic syllepsis occurs when a word


or phrase is used both in its gurative and literal sense
at the same time.[3] In this case, it is not necessary for
the governing phrase to relate to two other parts of the
sentence, for example in the song, Whats My Name?"
Drake says, Okay, there we go / Only thing we have on is
the radio. Another example is in an advertisement for a
transport company: We go a long way for you. A syllepsis of this type is similar to a homonymic pun.

John F. Kennedy

2.2 Hypozeugma
Hypozeugma[17] or adjunctions (adiunctio)[18] is used
in a construction containing several phrases. It occurs
when the word or words on which all of the phrases depend is placed last.
Assure yourself that Damon to his Pythias, Pylades
to his Orestes, Titus to his Gysippus, Theseus to
his Pyrothus, Scipio to his Laelius, was never found
more faithful than Euphues will be to his Philautus.
(John Lyly, Euphues)[19]

2.3 Prozeugma
A prozeugma,[20] synezeugmenon, or praeiunctio is a
zeugma where the governing word occurs in the rst
clause of the sentence.[19]
Vicit pudorem libido timorem audacia rationem
amentia. (Cicero, Pro Cluentio, VI.15)

3
Lust conquered shame; audacity, fear;
madness, reason.
Histories make men wise; poets, witty; the mathematics, subtile; natural philosophy, deep; moral,
grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend. (Francis
Bacon[13] ).

2.4

Mesozeugma

[11] Shen, Yeshayahu (March 1998). Zeugma: Prototypes,


Categories, And Metaphors. Metaphor & Symbol 13 (1):
3147. doi:10.1207/s15327868ms1301_3.
[12] Baldick, Chris. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary
Terms. Zeugma. 2004.
[13] Bacon, Francis (1601). Of Studies.
[14] Johnson, Samuel. A Dictionary of the English Language.
"Zeugma". 1755. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
[15] Brigham Young Dictionary of Figures of Speech. "". Re-

trieved 13 May 2013.


A mesozeugma[21] is a zeugma where the governing
word occurs in the middle of the sentence and governs [16] Rhetorica ad Herennium. IV. xxvii. Retrieved 24 January
clauses on either side. The form of mesozeugma where
2013.
the common term is a verb is called conjunction (coni[17] Brigham Young Dictionary of Figures of Speech. "". Reunctio) in the Roman Rhetorica ad Herennium.[16]
trieved 13 May 2013.

What a shame is this, that neither hope of reward,


nor feare of reproch could any thing move him,
neither the persuasion of his friends, nor the love of
his country. [sic]" (Henry Peacham)

3
4

See also
References

[1] Liddell, H. G. & al. A Greek-English Lexicon. "".


Perseus Project. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
[2] Random House Dictionary. "Syllepsis". 2013. Retrieved
24 January 2013.
[3] Bernard Marie Dupriez (1991). A Dictionary of Literary
Devices: Gradus, A-Z. University of Toronto Press. p.
440. ISBN 978-0-8020-6803-3. Retrieved 25 September
2013.
[4] Random House Dictionary. "Syllepsis". 2013. Retrieved
11 May 2013.
[5] Random House Dictionary. Zeugma. 2013. Retrieved
24 January 2013.
[6] Oxford Dictionaries Online. Zeugma. Oxford University
Press. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
[7] WordNet. Zeugma. Princeton University Press. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
[8] Knapp, James F. The Norton Anthology of Poetry.
Glossary of Literary Terms. W. W. Norton & Co.,
2005. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
[9]

Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p.


661. ISBN 0-415-09624-3.

[10] Reported in Strauss, Emmanuel, Dictionary of European


Proverbs (Routledge, 1998), ISBN 0-415-16050-2, p.
765.

[18] Rhetorica ad Herennium


[19] The intimate art of writing poetry Ottone Riccio Google
Books. Prentice-Hall. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
[20] Brigham Young Dictionary of Figures of Speech. "". Retrieved 13 May 2013.
[21] Brigham Young Dictionary of Figures of Speech. "". Retrieved 13 May 2013.

5 External links
Some examples of zeugma as a synonym for syllepsis
Perseus Project with links to original sources on
rhetoric

6 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

6.1

Text

Zeugma Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeugma?oldid=676509435 Contributors: The Epopt, Vicki Rosenzweig, Bryan Derksen,
Youssefsan, Danny, Heron, Edward, Michael Hardy, Mxn, Disdero, MatrixFrog, Bary, Maximus Rex, Furrykef, Geogre, Auric, Centrx, Smjg, Sj, Brian Schlosser42, Manuel Anastcio, Andycjp, Opera hat, Hutschi, Ellsworth, Neutrality, Amantine~enwiki, Thorwald,
Zenohockey, Kwamikagami, Senori, Wareh, Neg, Polylerus, Dvgrn, Grutness, V2Blast, Robin Johnson, Andrew Gray, Stephan Leeds,
VoluntarySlave, Elethiomel, Localh77, Kelisi, Stefanomione, Ajshm, Bluefruitbowl, Dpaking, Graham87, Rjwilmsi, Quiddity, Leighman,
Darksasami, FlaBot, Astatine, Ayla, Quuxplusone, Bgwhite, Flcelloguy, Hairy Dude, C777, Dlyons493, Ms2ger, AjaxSmack, Marlasdad, SmackBot, Unyoyega, Eskimbot, Gilliam, Psiphiorg, Bluebot, Hongooi, Prattmic, Yaksha, Tesseran, SashatoBot, Robosh, AshleyMorton, Hammerattack, Hikitsurisan~enwiki, Cydebot, WillowW, DumbBOT, Chachilongbow, Barticus88, Amerenbach, Ty683g542,
Alphachimpbot, Canadian-Bacon, JAnDbot, Deective, L33tmaster, Rothorpe, , Magioladitis, Zarino, Fauxparse, Adavies42,
Nankai, Nander, Gwern, Alejandrayaya, Fishbert, Caspian blue, VolkovBot, Othechain, Macedonian, Macfanatic, Mcsbloom, Paleotech, Bearian, Classicsboy, Cnilep, Spamburgler, Flyer22, Fratrep, Cocoapropo, Martarius, ClueBot, Jan1nad, Pi zero, Niceguyedc,
Arjayay, Ams1230, SilvonenBot, MystBot, Jeferman, Mojska, Addbot, DavidCrosbie, Goregore~enwiki, Luckas-bot, Yobot, Melaena,
AnomieBOT, Subject name here, LlywelynII, Kingpin13, Citation bot, Girabbit85, Gx872op, Nedim Ardoa, FrescoBot, Mayakukanja,
Alarics, Gould80, Kimaaron, HRoestBot, Jonesey95, Alisteditor, Zeilensprung, Possak, Dinamik-bot, Sir Irmo, Stephen MUFC, Tbhotch,
Wikiborg4711, Fitoschido, EmausBot, John of Reading, Qrsdogg, Malcolm77, SporkBot, Lexicop, ClueBot NG, Netdpb, AllisonLake,
Cheng, Spannerjam, UnvoicedConsonant, Gorobay, The Mol Man, Nitpicking polish, Lfdder, Prof G S Rathore, Seb Scotney, Metadox,
JaconaFrere, Lmn36, Monkbot, Pksochacki, Mizzou1993 and Anonymous: 140

6.2

Images

File:Speakerlink-new.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Speakerlink-new.svg License: CC0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Kelvinsong
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domain Contributors: Vector version of Image:Wiktionary-logo-en.png. Original artist: Vectorized by Fvasconcellos (talk contribs),
based on original logo tossed together by Brion Vibber

6.3

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