Meanings
nounsyllepsis (countable and uncountable, plural syllepses)
plural syllepses
- countablerhetoricuncountableA figure of speech in which one word simultaneously modifies two or more other words such that the modification must be understood differently with respect to each modified word; often causing humorous incongruity.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounGrowth in which lateral branches develop from a lateral meristem, without the formation of a bud or period of dormancy, when the lateral meristem is split from a terminal meristem.
Opposite
Origin
- Ancient Greekσύλληψις
- Latinsyllepsis
- Englishsyllepsis
From Latin syllepsis, from Ancient Greek σύλληψις (súllēpsis), from συλλαμβάνω (sullambánō).
More words from Latin, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish syllepsi
- syllepsifigure of speech
French syllepse
- syllepsefigure of speech
German Syllepse, Syllepsis
- Syllepsefigure of speech
- Syllepsisfigure of speech
Hungarian szillepszis
- szillepszisfigure of speech
Italian sillessi, sillepsi
- sillessifigure of speech
- sillepsifigure of speech
Polish syllepsa, syllepsis
- syllepsafigure of speech
- syllepsisfigure of speech
- wzrost sylleptycznybotany: growth of branches without dormancy
Portuguese silepse
- silepsefigure of speech
Romanian silepsă
- silepsăfigure of speech
Russian си́ллепс
- си́ллепс (sílleps)figure of speech
Spanish silepsis
- silepsisfigure of speech
Cite this entry
APA
syllepsis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/syllepsis
MLA
“syllepsis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/syllepsis. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “syllepsis,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/syllepsis.
Source: syllepsis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.