zeugmahttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zeugma_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezeugma, n.
Revised 2018

zeugmanoun

Grammar and Rhetoric.
  1. c1450–
    A rhetorical figure in which a word or phrase is made to apply, in different senses, to two (or more) others, or (formerly) when it agrees grammatically with only one. Cf. syllepsis n. 1.
    A well-known example of zeugma is found in the following:
    1. 1712
      Here Thou, great Anna! whom three Realms obey, Dost sometimes Counsel take—and sometimes Tea.
      A. Pope, Rape of Locke i, in Miscellaneous Poems 359
    1. c1450
      Zeuma is a joynyng togedyr of twey nominatyf cases in reward of a verbe so that the verbe acorde wyth that on nominatyf case and nouȝt wyth that othyr, as Ego lego et tu.
      in D. Thomson, Middle English Grammatical Texts (1984) 181
    2. 1555
      Zeugma is varyed also by the place, where that common woorde is putte.
      R. Sherry, Treatise of Figures of Grammar & Rhetorike f. xvij.
    3. 1589
      But if it be to mo clauses then one, that some such word be supplied to perfit the congruitie or sence of them all, it is by the figure (Zeugma) we call him the (single supplie)..: as to say. Fellowes and friends and kinne forsooke me quite.
      G. Puttenham, Arte of English Poesie iii. xii. 136
    4. 1592
      Zeugma, when one or more clauses are concluded vnder one verbe, as to say: His loosenes ouercame all shame, his boldnes feare, his madnes reason.
      A. Day, 2nd Part English Secretorie sig. N1v, in English Secretorie (revised edition)
    5. 1656
      By this figure Zeugma, a verb is sometimes reduced to two Nominative cases, and agrees with both, and then it is called a Zeugma of locution, not of construction.
      J. Smith, Mysterie of Rhetorique Unvail'd 181
    6. 1683
      Sometimes a Syllepsis meets in Conjunction with a Zeugma.
      J. Twells, Grammatics Reformata 42
    7. 1738
      Puzzling Grammarians call Zeugma..if the Common Word stands first, Protozeugma, as, Sunt nobis mitia poma.
      J. Holmes, Art Rhetoric vol. I. 62
    8. 1746
      The Zeugma, which is a kind of Ellipsis, wherein a word is understood that has been already mentioned in the sentence, may be seen in the following Examples.
      T. Nugent, translation of C. Lancelot et al. New Method of learning Greek Tongue vol. II. vii. vii. 201
    9. 1848
      I assume the influence..to have been such as will at once explain the repetition of a zeugma.
      G. Rorison, Contributions towards Harmony Holy Gospels 226
    10. 1888
      Zeugmata and other modes of pregnant expression are practically unknown to his style.
      American Journal of Philology vol. 9 340
    11. 1904
      One must be very circumspect in making zeugmas of that kind.
      Black & Red May 58
    12. 1978
      You ‘committed’, as you put it, a zeugma—or more properly, a syllepsis.
      W. F. Buckley, Stained Glass iii. 30
    13. 2015
      There's the use of zeugma in the second, where the verb ‘stink’ governs both the ‘bolt oil and burned powder’ and ‘the things it says’.
      Sunday Times (Nexis) 8 February (Features section) 7

zeugma, n. was revised in June 2018.

zeugma, n. was last modified in September 2024.