merismus

M3E1R1I1S1M3U1S1
/məˈɹɪzməs/

noun

A metonymic term to describe a type of synecdoche in which two parts of a thing, perhaps contrasting or complementary parts, are made to stand for the whole.

OriginAncient Greek μερισμός →
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Meanings

noun
  1. rhetoricA metonymic term to describe a type of synecdoche in which two parts of a thing, perhaps contrasting or complementary parts, are made to stand for the whole.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekμερισμός“a dividing”
  2. Englishmerismus

From Ancient Greek μερισμός (merismós, “a dividing”), derived from the Ancient Greek verb μερίζω (merízō, “to divide into parts”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Sumerism
Cite this entry
APA

merismus. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/merismus

MLA

“merismus.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/merismus. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “merismus,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/merismus.

Source: merismus on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.