What does syllepses mean?
Syllepses are grammatical constructions in which a single word governs or applies to two or more words, usually giving each word a different grammatical role. A familiar example is “She gave her sister her book,” where “gave” takes “her sister” as the indirect object and “her book” as the direct object. The same word can therefore carry two grammatical relationships within one clause. Syllepsis is discussed in grammar and rhetoric because it can produce compression and economy, but it may also create ambiguity when the intended relationships are unclear. It is often compared with zeugma: syllepsis is defined primarily by the different grammatical functions of the governed words, while zeugma more often emphasizes semantic mismatch or an unexpected combination. Both terms are specialized, but the underlying construction is common in ordinary English.
noun (plural)Syllepses are instances of syllepsis, in which one word is used grammatically with two or more words, each of which has a different grammatical function or meaning. The construction is especially common when a single preposition governs both an object and a direct object, as in “she gave her sister her book.”
- A grammatical construction in which one word applies to or governs two or more words, often with a difference in grammatical function or interpretation.
"The sentence contains a syllepsis because “gave” governs both “her sister” and “her book.”"
"The phrase “he took her in his arms and his confidence” is a classic example of a syllepsis."
"Editors sometimes revise syllepses because they can force an unintended ambiguity."
Plural of “syllepsis,” referring to separate instances of the grammatical construction.
"The editor identified several syllepses in the text."
A syllepsis lets one word do two jobs at once, quietly reshaping the meaning of an entire sentence.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does syllepses come from?
The term comes from Greek sullēpsis, meaning “a taking together” or “a joining together.” It entered English through scholarly grammatical and rhetorical usage in the nineteenth century, when grammarians used it to describe a word that governs two other words with differing functions. The related term zeugma also comes from Greek and refers to a grammatical joining or yoking, which accounts for the frequent comparison between the two concepts.
Related word forms
How syllepses is actually used
The term is chiefly used in grammar, rhetoric, and literary analysis. It is sometimes distinguished from zeugma, although the boundary between the two can vary by author and context.
Easily confused with syllepses
A syllepsis uses one word to govern two words with different grammatical functions, whereas a zeugma generally uses one word to govern two words that are semantically mismatched or grammatically awkward.