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synecdoche Definition

syn·ec·do·che (si nekdə 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

synecdoche Related Forms
syn′·ec·dochic (sin′ek däkik) adjective or syn′·ec·dochi·cal

Browse dictionary entries near synecdoche

  1. syne
  2. syndrome
  3. syndicated loans
  4. syndicate manager
  5. syndicate
  6. syndicalism
  7. syndical
  8. syndic
  9. syndetic
  10. syndesmosis
  1. synecology
  2. syneresis
  3. synergetic
  4. synergid
  5. synergism
  6. synergist
  7. synergy
  8. synesis
  9. synesthesia
  10. synfuel