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synecdoche
synecdoche definition
syn·ec·do·che (si nek′də kē)
noun
a figure of speech in which a part is used for a whole, an individual for a class, a material for a thing, or the reverse of any of these (Ex.: bread for food, the army for a soldier, or copper for a penny)
Etymology: LME, altered (infl. by L) < synodoche < ML sinodoche, for L synecdoche < Gr synekdochē, lit., a receiving together < synekdechesthai, to receive together < syn-, together + ekdechesthai, to receive < ek-, from + dechesthai, to receive < IE base *de- > decent
Related Forms:
- synecdochic syn′·ec·doch′ic (sin′ek däk′ik) adjective or synecdochical syn′·ec·doch′i·cal
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