Want to remove ads? Log in to see fewer ads, and become a Premium Member to remove all ads.

Origin and history of synecdoche

synecdoche(n.)

"figure of speech in which a part is taken for the whole of a thing or vice versa," late 15c. correction of synodoches (late 14c.), from Medieval Latin synodoche, alteration of Late Latin synecdoche, from Greek synekdokhē "the putting of a whole for a part," etymologically "a receiving together or jointly." This is from synekdekhesthai "supply a thought or word; take with something else, join in receiving," from syn- "with" (see syn-) + ek "out" (see ex-) + dekhesthai "to receive," related to dokein "seem good" (from PIE root *dek- "to take, accept").

Typically an attribute or adjunct substituted for the thing meant (head for "cattle," hands for "workers," sail for "ships," wheels for "automobile"). The etymological notion is "an understanding one with another."

"Formerly sometimes used loosely or vaguely, and not infrequently misexplained" [OED, 2nd ed. print, 1989]. Compare metonymy. Related: Synecdochic; synecdochical; synecdochically.

also from late 15c.

Entries linking to synecdoche

metonymy(n.)

in rhetoric, a trope or figure of speech in which the name of one thing is substituted for that of another that is suggested by or closely associated with it (such as the bottle for "alcoholic drink"); 1560s, from French métonymie (16c.) and directly from Late Latin metonymia, from Greek metōnymia, literally "change of name." This is related to metonomazein "to call by a new name; to take a new name," from meta "change" (see meta-) + onyma, dialectal form of onoma "name" (from PIE root *no-men- "name").

It often serves to call up associations not suggested by the literal name. Frequently in reference to bureaucracies; Porte for "Ottoman court at Constantinople" (c. 1600, via French) is among the early instances in English. Others, mostly 19c. or after, some now obsolete: Threadneedle Street "Bank of England;" Throgmorton Street "London Stock Exchange;" Scotland Yard "London Metropolitan Police;" Whitehall "British civil service;" Pentagon "U.S. military;" Vatican "the Papacy;" Kremlin "the Russian government;" White House "the United States;" Quai d'Orsay "French Ministry of Foreign Affairs;" Wilhelmstrasse "German foreign policy;" Foggy Bottom "U.S. Department of State."

Related: Metonymic; metonymical; metonymically.

*dek-

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to take, accept."

It might form all or part of: condign; dainty; decent; decor; decorate; decorous; deign; dignify; dignity; diplodocus; disciple; discipline; disdain; docent; Docetism; docile; docimacy; doctor; doctrine; document; dogma; dogmatic; doxology; heterodox; indignance; indignant; indignation; indignity; orthodox; paradox; synecdoche.

It might also be the source of: Sanskrit daśasyati "shows honor, is gracious," dacati "makes offerings, bestows;" Greek dokein "to appear, seem, think," dekhesthai "to accept;" Latin decere "to be fitting or suitable," docere "to teach," decus "grace, ornament."