Gram. and Rhet. [mod. L., a. Gr. ζεῦγμα a yoking, f. ζευγνύαι to yoke, related to ζυγόν YOKE sb.] A figure by which a single word is made to refer to two or more words in the sentence; esp. when properly applying in sense to only one of them, or applying to them in different senses; but formerly more widely, including, e.g., the use of the same predicate, without repetition, with two or more subjects; also sometimes applied to cases of irregular construction, in which the single word agrees grammatically with only one of the other words to which it refers (more properly called SYLLEPSIS).
1586. A. Day, Engl. Secretorie, II. (1595), 82. Zeugma, when one or more clauses are concluded vnder one verbe, as to say, His loosnesse ouercame all shame; his boldnesse, feare; his madnesse, reason.
1589. Puttenham, Engl. Poesie, III. xii. (Arb.), 175. But if it be to tuo clauses then one, that some such word be supplied to perfit the congruitie or sence of them all, it is by the figure (Zeugma) we call him the (single supplie)…: as to say, Fellowes and friends and kinne forsooke me quite.
1848. J. T. White, Xenophon’s Anab., Notes I. v. § 9 (1872), 51. Observe the zeugma in πλήθει [in ἡ βασιλέως άρχὴ, πλήθει μὲν χώρας καὶ ἀνθρώπων ἰσχυρὰ οὖσα].
1872. Lillie, trans. J. P. Lange’s Comm. 2 Thess., iii. 156. Αὐτους is now to be taken out of the dative τοιούτοις, by an obvious zeugma [in 2 Thess. iii. 12 τοῖς δἑ τοιούτοις παραγγέλλομεν, καὶ παρακαλοῦμεν].
1882. Farrar, Early Chr., II. 560. By the figure of speech called zeugma, or rather syllepsis, the same word … is often made to serve two purposes in the same sentence. A verb is often used with two clauses which is only appropriate to one of them, as in Pope’s line—‘See Pan with flocks, with fruits Pomona crowned.’
Hence Zeugmatic a., pertaining to or involving zeugma; Zeugmatically adv., so as to involve zeugma.
1857. Ellicott, Comm. Col. ii. 5. A zeugmatic construction of the accus, with both verbs. Ibid. (1857), Comm. Phil. i. 27. Attempts have been made to defend the construction as it stands,… by referring ἀκούσω zeugmatically to both clauses.
