metalepsis

noun

meta·​lep·​sis
ˌmetᵊlˈepsə̇s
plural metalepses
-ˌsēz
: a figure of speech consisting in the substitution by metonymy of one figurative sense for another

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek metalēpsis, literally, alteration, participation, from metalambanein to exchange, participate in, from meta- + lambanein to take

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Cite this Entry

“Metalepsis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metalepsis. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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