Quasar Bazaar

Linguistics - Types of Words

Zeagma

pronounced zoogma z when a word can have two meanings In the same sentence Ex: our teeth and ambitions are bared

Pleonasm

words that have redundant parts Food Examples: Chai tea (tea tea), naan bread (bread bread), ramen noodles (noodle noodles), mole sauce (sauce sauce), shitake mushrooms (mushroom mushrooms) Location Examples: Lake Michigan (Lake Big Lake), Lake Tahoe (Lake Lake), Mississippi River (Big River River), Ohio River (Good River River), and the Connecticut River (Long Tidal River River Misc: chainmail, savehaven

Anapodotons

Figures of speech so common you can just say part of it. Examples include When in rome (do as the romans do) if the shoe fits (wear it) when life gives you lemons (make lemonade) if you can't stand the heat (get out of the kitchen) speak of the devil (and he shall appear) what the? (heck/hell/etc)

Litotes

Phrases where you say a negative to affirm a positive. Examples include not bad thats just great its not my favorite not too shabby

Antiphrases (check pronunciation)

Phrases where you say the opposite of the meaning - sarcastic phrases essentially. Examples include take your time, we've got all day

Antonomasia

Word or phrase used to take the place of a common name. Examples include Babe Ruth - the Great Bambino Abe Lincoln - The Great Emancipator or Honest Abe New York City - The Big Apple

Tautophrase

a phrase that repeats an idea with the same phrase. Examples include A mans gotta do what a mans gotta do It ain't over til its over

Oxymorons

Oxymorons are words that contradict themselves. The word itself is actually and oxymoron because it derives from the Greek oskus which mean sharp or keen and moros meaning dull. Examples include jumbo shrimp bittersweet plastic silverware

Aposiopesis

Aposiopesis is when you deliberately omit the end of a phrase. It happens when you are unable or unwilling to complete a thought. It tends to be a way of making something less embarassing though the meaning is still clear. It evolved from gay and ballroom culture's tendency to be dramatic, though examples go all the way back to ancient Rome in the Aeneid for example. Modern examples include Why he kinda... Why I outta... I mean...