zeugma

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: zeug=ma

CIDE DICTIONARY

zeugma, n. [L., from Gr. , fr. to yoke, join. See Yoke.].

 A figure by which an adjective or verb, which agrees with a nearer word, is, by way of supplement, referred also to another more remote; as, “hic illius arma, hic currus fuit;” where fuit, which agrees directly with currus, is referred also to arma.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

zeugma, n. a figure of speech using a verb or adjective with two nouns, to one of which it is strictly applicable while the word appropriate to the other is not used (e.g. with weeping eyes and

Derivative

zeugmatic adj.

Etymology

L f. Gk zeugma -atos f. zeugnumi to yoke, zugon yoke