squinting construction

noun

: a grammatical construction that contains a word or phrase (such as sometimes in "to die sometimes is noble") interpretable as modifying either what precedes or what follows and if interpreted in one way gives an unintended sense

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near squinting construction

Cite this Entry

“Squinting construction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squinting%20construction. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!