Meanings
nounantanaclasis (countable and uncountable, plural antanaclases)
plural antanaclases
- countablerhetoricuncountableThe repeated use of the same word or phrase, but with a different meaning each time; a kind of paronomasia.
Origin
- Ancient Greekἀντανάκλασις“reflection, bending back”
- Englishantanaclasis
From Ancient Greek ἀντανάκλασις (antanáklasis, “reflection, bending back”), from ἀντί (antí, “against”) + ἀνά (aná, “up”) + κλάσις (klásis, “breaking”).
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
French antanaclase
- antanaclasethe use of the same word or phrase, but with a different meaning each time
Italian antanaclasi
- antanaclasithe use of the same word or phrase, but with a different meaning each time
Portuguese antanáclase
- antanáclasethe use of the same word or phrase, but with a different meaning each time
Cite this entry
APA
antanaclasis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/antanaclasis
MLA
“antanaclasis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/antanaclasis. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “antanaclasis,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/antanaclasis.
Source: antanaclasis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.