metalepsis

[ met-uh-lep-sis ]

noun

, Rhetoric.

, plural met·a·lep·ses [met-, uh, -, lep, -seez].

1. the use of metonymy to replace a word already used figuratively.

Other Words From

• meta·leptic meta·lepti·cal adjective
• meta·lepti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of metalepsis¹

1580–90; < Latin < Greek metálēpsis, equivalent to meta- meta- + lēp-, variant stem of lambánein to take + -sis -sis

Example Sentences

Indeed, it is the most common form of metalepsis, designed to confuse the audience.

From The Daily Beast

Metalepsis carries us so far, but synecdoche must supplement it.

From Project Gutenberg