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zeugma-variant

Device
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A form of zeugma where one word links disparate meanings in a novel or playful way

Detailed Definition
A zeugma-variant is a rhetorical figure where one word governs two or more others in different, often incongruous senses—e.g., “she broke his car and his heart”—creating witty or poignant tension; poetic variants may stretch syntax to highlight semantic dissonance or emotional complexity.
Example
Example in poetry:
“She broke his heart and the teacup” (emotional and physical breakage); “He lost his keys and his temper” (conjoined losses); “She opened the door and her soul” (literal and metaphorical opening); “He took his hat and his leave” (departure with dual meaning)
Additional Notes
zeugma-variant: A figure of speech where a single word (usually a verb or an adjective) governs or is applied to two or more other words in a sentence, but in different senses (e.g., He caught the train and a cold); a common form of wit.
Also Known As
Zeugmatic variant Variant zeugma Modified zeugma
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