synecdoche etymology

Etymology and Origin

The word "synecdoche" originates from the Greek words "syn" (together) and "ekdechesthai" (to receive or take in). It was first used in the 3rd century BC by the Greek philosopher Chrysippus.

Meaning

Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole, or a whole is used to represent a part. It is a type of metonymy, where a thing or concept is referred to by the name of one of its attributes or parts.

Examples

  • Part for whole: "All hands on deck!" - this refers to the crew, not just their hands.
  • Whole for part: "I love my country." - this means the people and land that make up the country, not just the government.
  • Specific for general: "He's a real Einstein." - this means he's intelligent, not necessarily as smart as Albert Einstein himself.
  • General for specific: "The government is trying to help the poor." - this refers to a specific group of people in need, not all poor people.

Types of Synecdoche

There are two main types of synecdoche:

  • Simple synecdoche: When a part represents the whole or vice versa.
  • Figurative synecdoche: When an attribute or characteristic represents its subject.

Uses of Synecdoche

Synecdoche is used frequently in everyday language, literature, and other forms of communication. It helps to create a vivid and memorable image, condense language, or emphasize a particular aspect of a subject.

synecdoche relate terms

  • metonymy

    Etymology Metonymy Derived from the Greek words meta beyond and onoma name me

  • meta

    Etymology The word meta is derived from the Ancient Greek prefix μετα meta

  • pentagon

    Etymology The word pentagon originates from the Greek words penta meaning five a

  • Vatican

    Etymology The name Vatican derives from the Latin word Vaticānus which is believed

  • Kremlin

    Etymology The word Kremlin comes from the Russian word кремль kremľ meanin

  • condign

    Etymology The word condign has its origins in Latin con meaning together or wi

  • dainty

    Etymology French daint delicate c 1300 Middle English deyntee dayntee c 1340 O

  • decent

    Etymology Latin decens befitting proper becoming Proto Indo European dek ri

  • decor

    Etymology The word decor comes from the Latin word decorus which means proper fi

  • decorate

    Etymology Latin decorare to adorn beautify Proto Indo European deḱ to grow

  • decorous

    Etymology Latin decorus seemly becoming Proto Indo European dek decency com

  • deign

    Etymology The word deign originates from the Old French word deignier which in turn

  • dignify

    Etymology The word dignify comes from the Latin word dignus meaning worthy or d

  • dignity

    Etymology The word dignity comes from the Latin word dignitas which means worth or

  • diplodocus

    Etymology Name Diplodocus Meaning Double beam Origin Greek words diploos double

  • disciple

    Etymology The word disciple comes from the Latin discipulus which means pupil or

  • discipline

    Etymology Latin disciplina Meaning instruction teaching training Origin discer

  • disdain

    Etymology The word disdain comes from the Old French word desdaignier meaning to

  • docent

    Etymology The word docent is derived from the Latin verb docere which means to teac

  • Docetism

    Etymology The term Docetism derives from the Greek word dokein which means to seem

  • docile

    Etymology Latin docibilis teachable gentle Ultimately from Proto Indo European

  • docimacy

    Etymology Greek δοκιμασία dokimasia testing trial Latin docimare to te

  • doctor

    Etymology The word doctor derives from the Latin word docēre meaning to teach M

  • doctrine

    Etymology The word doctrine originates from the Latin word doctrina which means tea

  • document

    Etymology The word document originates from the Latin word documentum which means p

  • dogma

    Etymology Greek dogma δόγμα meaning opinion belief decree Meaning A

  • dogmatic

    Etymology The word dogmatic originates from the Latin word dogma which means doctr

  • doxology

    Etymology From Late Latin doxologia from Greek δοξολογία doxologia from δ

  • heterodox

  • indignance

    Etymology Late Latin indignatio from Latin indignari to be indignant from Indi

  • indignant

    Etymology Indignus Latin meaning unworthy undeserving ant Suffix denoting a qual

  • indignation

    Etymology Late Latin indignatio from Latin indignus unworthy from in not dign

  • indignity

    Etymology Latin indignitas unworthiness indignity Proto Indo European dheigh

  • orthodox

    Etymology The word orthodox derives from the Greek words ortho meaning right st

  • paradox

    Etymology The word paradox originates from the Greek language para παρά mea

  • synecdoche

    Etymology and Origin The word synecdoche originates from the Greek words syn togethe

  • merism

    Etymology and Origin Merism is a figure of speech that uses two contrasting or contradic

  • start

    Etymology The word start has multiple etymologies depending on its usage Meaning

  • stitch

    Etymology The word stitch comes from the Old English word stician which means to

  • shaft

    Etymology Middle English schafte schafte from Old English sceaft sceaft shaft of

  • back

    Etymology The word back is derived from the Old English word bæc which meant back

  • trope

    Etymology The term trope originates from the Greek word tropos which means turn o

  • Porte

    Etymology The word porte comes from the French word porte which in turn comes from

  • image

    Etymology The word image comes from the Latin word imago which in turn comes from th

  • figure

    Etymology The word figure comes from the Latin word figura which means shape for

  • head

    Etymology The word head comes from the Old English word heafod which itself derives