Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a whole is represented by a part of it synecdoche is different from metonymy. The contemporary english definition of synecdoche is. Although burkes conventional definition of synecdoche sounds strikingly similar to metonymy, it functions for him as a corrective to metonymical excess. Synecdoche definition, a figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole or the whole for a part, the special for the general or the general for the special, as in ten sail for ten ships or a croesus for a rich man. Drawing attention to the part instead of a whole allows us to be more specific with our point as well. With metonymy, the thing that is used to represent the whole is not a part of the whole. The veronica represents christs face and, by synecdoche, his entire body. Synecdoche is a literary device in which a part of something represents the whole or it may use a whole to represent a part. Some examples are so common as to become a regular part of the lexicon. Synecdoche definition of synecdoche by the free dictionary. Boots meaning soldiers america for the united states number 10 for the office of the prime minister. In this example, synecdoche serves to replace a collection of parts with the whole.
Synecdoche is a literary device in which a part of something represents the whole, or it may use a whole to represent a part. Synecdoche is a rhetorical trope and a type of figurative speech similar to metonymya figure of speech that uses a term that denotes one thing to refer to a related thing. Synecdoche may also use larger groups to refer to smaller groups or vice versa. Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole, or the whole for a part, the special for the general or the general for the special, as in ten sail for ten ships or a croesus for a rich man. The usage of synecdoche, thus, emphasizes a sentence delivering the right context and embellishing the literary work. The metonymy generally involves a specific example e. We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website, including to provide targeted advertising and track usage. Synecdoche is a figure of speech where part of something is used to represent the whole thing. In summary, synecdoche is a type of figurative language. The whole is used as the part twenty sails came into the harbor. Synecdoche pronounced sinekduhkee is derived from the greek word synekdoche defined as simultaneous meaning.
Synecdoche may also use larger groups to refer to smaller groups, or vice versa. Synecdoche pronounced sinekdikey is a trope or figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole for example, abcs for alphabet or less commonly the whole is used to represent a part england won the world cup in 1966. Definition of synecdoche from our glossary of english linguistic and grammatical terms containing explanations and crossreferences to other relevant english grammar terms. For example, the use of press to mean journalists dates to the 17th century and. Definition noun a stylistic device through which a portion of a thing symbolises the thing itself. Since the essence of synecdoche is that a part of something stands for the whole intended thing, the most common examples involve body parts or pieces of clothing. Synecdoche synecdoche definition and synecdoche examples. Pdf understanding what is a metaphor, a metonymy and a. These three examples, and most other cases, use the part for the whole. A figure of speech that uses the name of a part of something to represent the whole.
The term synecdoche might seem unfamiliar but you wouldve surely come across such words or sentences in written text. A synecdoche pronounced sinekduhkee is a member of the figurative language family. The function of synecdoche in literature and everyday speech. A synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a term for a part of something refers to the whole of something or vice versa. A figure of speech in which the name of a part is used to stand for the whole, the whole for a part, the specific for the general, the general for the. For example, calling a car wheels is a synecdoche because a part of the car, its wheels, stands for the whole car. Its an odd word for what is simply using part of a whole to represent the whole. It can be defined as a figure of speech where part of a sentence describes the entirety. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. We can come across examples of metonymy both from literature and in everyday life. Definition of synecdoche noun in oxford advanced learners dictionary. Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase that refers to a part of something is substituted to stand in for the whole, or vice versa. The interesting part about synecdoche is how it enables writers and speakers to transform daytoday language into something more thoughtprovoking than usual. When a whole is used as the part or a part of a thing is put for the whole examples.
The usage of synecdoche, thus, emphasizes a sentence delivering the right context and embellishing the literary. In synechdoche, the part that is used to represent the whole is actually a part of the whole. Thus, it means the transfer or exchange of one idea for another associated idea. Mar 12, 2020 synecdoche countable and uncountable, plural synecdoches rhetoric a figure of speech that uses the name of a part of something to represent the whole, or the whole to represent a part.
To say that farmer keeps 300 head of cattle is speaking by synecdoche. Synecdoche may be used in everyday conversation, speeches, stories, poems and plays, and movies and songs. The sound of a radio and pots and pans clanging fades in. A synecdoche is a class of metonymy, often by means of either mentioning a part for the whole or conversely the whole for one of its parts. Synecdoche definition of synecdoche by merriamwebster. This excerpt from the grammar devotional explains how to use synecdoche and gives you some examples. It may also call a thing by the name of the material it is made of, or it may refer to a thing in a container or. Like how the hands is always used to do a job, and while the entire person is vital to the completion of a task, using the hands emphasizes the. Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which you use a part of something to stand for the whole thing. Synecdoche is a type of symbolism where one thing is used to represent something else. Closely related to metonymythe replacement of a word by one closely related.
Synecdoche is a figure of speech which expresses either more, or less, than it literally denotes. Jan 30, 2020 a synecdoche is a figure of speech used when a part of something is used to refer to its whole, or vice versa. The whole world did not treat him badly only a part. Synecdoche simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Get 50% off quizlet plus through monday learn more. Synecdoche examples and definition literary devices. While synecdoche has many other definitions in its role of metonymy, this is the one we feel to be its most common application in biblical interpretation. A concise definition of synecdoche along with usage tips, an expanded explanation, and lots of. May 17, 2016 synecdoche is a literary device in which a part of something represents the whole or it may use a whole to represent a part. Heres a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead. Synecdoche is a type of figure of speech which is used very commonly in the english language.
The examples of hyperbolic synecdoche were found not to be covered by the oft. This is one of the reasons why its an alltime favorite in poetry and music lyrics. Synonyms for synecdoche include pars pro toto, synecdochy, figure of speech, phrase, adumbration, allegory, alliteration, allusion, analogue and analog. Dubois preface the purpose of this book is to bring to the attention of translators the nature of metonymy and synecdoche and the need to translate these two figures meaningfully. Examples from common english expressions include suits for.
It uses a part for the whole thing, or the whole for one of its parts. Caden, 40, opens his eyes in bed, and groggily looks at himself in the bureau mirror. Synecdoche definition, a figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole or the whole for a part, the special for the general or the general for the special, as in ten sail for ten ships or a. It is more distantly related to other figures of speech, such as metaphor. If your parents buy you a car and you say that you just got a new set of wheels, youre using synecdoche youre using the wheels, which are part of a car, to refer to the whole car. Sorting the data on beekmans outline numbers turned up several subclasses which had been omitted. We often use synecdoche in casual language, and writers often use it to. Metonymy is a figure of speech that replaces the name of a thing with the name of something else with which it is closely associated.
Pdf lesson plans, teacher articles and a directory of teaching and reference resources. The key difference between the two literary devices is metonymy can substitute a term that is not part of the whole for the thing. Or more precisely, a suitor with a faint heart never did. Closely related to metonymythe replacement of a word by one closely related to the originalsynecdoche is an important poetic device for creating vivid imagery. It comes from the compound greek word sunekdoche sunekdoxhv which is composed of the preposition sun suvn, together with, and ekdoche ekdoxhv, a receiving from. Choose from 69 different sets of synecdoche flashcards on quizlet.
A synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part is used to signify the whole. In this case, the death of one white woman is a synecdoche of the multitudinous african deaths caused by genocide. Create two new sentences, one for metonymy and one for synecdoche. For example, the captain commands one hundred sails is a synecdoche that uses sails to refer to shipsships being the thing of which a sail is a part. Definition, usage and a list of synecdoche examples in common speech and literature. Synecdoche definition and meaning collins english dictionary. This article will show you the importance of synecdoche and how to use ita synecdoche is a figure of speech which allows a part to stand for a whole or for a whole to stand for a part.
A synecdoche is a figure of speech used when a part of something is used to refer to its whole, or vice versa. A less common form of synecdoche occurs when a whole is used to refer to a part. A popular example of a chiasmus is the popular almostcliched saying never let a fool kiss you or a kiss fool you. One example of a figure of speech that has been frequently used by many writers and speakers is the synecdoche. Caden and adeles bedroom fall 2005 morning a1 darkness. Synecdoche, figure of speech in which a part represents the whole, as in the expression hired hands for workmen or, less commonly, the whole represents a part, as in the use of the word society to mean high society. John beekmans metonymy and synecdoche in notes on translation 23 1967 by carl d. Synecdoche is a rhetorical trope and a type of figurative speech similar to metonymya figure of speech in which a term that denotes one thing is used to refer to a related thing. Synecdoche is a literary device that replaces the part for the whole. The cognitive nature of metonymy and its implications for. Indeed, synecdoche is sometimes considered a subclass of metonymy.
An example of this is someone saying that they need a hand with a project. Synecdoche is a special type of metonymy in which the object or concept used to describe the larger is also a part of that larger concept, such as when ears are a part of the larger concept the audiences attention. Lets talk about synecdoche and metonymy, two very particular types of metaphorical expression in which one word is representative for another word or concept. Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which, most often, a part of something is used to refer to its whole. It is most simply described as replacing a whole with a part when referring to something such as an item, situation or place, amongst other things. Its meaning is meant to be taken figuratively, not literally.
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