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tmesis definition

tme·sis (tə mēsis, mēsis)

noun

Rhetoric, Prosody separation of the parts of a compound word by an intervening word or words (Ex.: what person soever for whatsoever person)

Etymology: LL < Gr tmēsis, a cutting < temnein, to cut: see -tomy

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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