Zeugma

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Zeugma \Zeug"ma\, n. [L., from Gr. ?, fr. ? to yoke, join. See
     {Yoke}.] (Gram.)
     A figure by which an adjective or verb, which agrees with a
     nearer word, is, by way of supplement, referred also to
     another more remote; as, "hic illius arma, hic currus fuit;"
     where fuit, which agrees directly with currus, is referred


     also to arma.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  zeugma
       n : use of a word to govern two or more words though appropriate
           to only one; "`Mr. Pickwick took his hat and his leave'
           is an example of zeugma"