First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
zeugma
noun zeug·ma \ˈzüg-mə\
Definition of ZEUGMA
: the use of a word to modify or govern two or more words usually in such a manner that it applies to each in a different sense or makes sense with only one (as in “opened the door and her heart to the homeless boy”)
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Origin of ZEUGMA
Middle English zeuma, from Medieval Latin, from Latin zeugma, from Greek, literally, joining, from zeugnynai to join; akin to Latin jungere to join — more at yoke
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