Zeugma | Definition & Examples
Zeugma is the use of a word to modify or “govern” two or more words even though its use may be grammatically or logically appropriate with only one. This unusual construction often creates a surprising or humorous effect. Zeugma appears in various contexts, including poetry, prose, puns, and jokes.
She looked at the object with suspicion and a magnifying glass.
Zeugma definition
Zeugma is a figure of speech in which one word, typically a verb or a subject noun, is applied to two other words within the same sentence, often resulting in different meanings. In the previous example, “I dressed myself and the salad,” the verb “dressed” applies to both “myself”’ (meaning “put on clothes”) and “the salad” (meaning “added dressing”).
The term “zeugma” comes from Greek and means “a yoking”, as it yokes one word to two ideas. By creating an unexpected link between disparate concepts, zeugma encourages the reader to pause and consider the sentence’s meaning, often adding a dramatic or humorous effect depending on the context
Zeugma can be broadly categorized into two main types:
- Semantic zeugma. This type involves two words that are joined together by a single verb and each require a different interpretation of the governing verb. Semantic zeugma plays with the ambiguities of language and the double meaning of the words.
- Grammatical zeugma. This type involves a single word that governs two or more other words but only suits one of them grammatically, for example in gender, number, or case. Syllepsis is another term for grammatical zeugma.
Ζeugma examples
In zeugma, the governing word can appear before, between, or after the governed parts.
First the door locked, and then his jaw.
My money, my time, and my trust were wasted.
Ζeugma examples in literature
Zeugmas often create a comic effect by contrasting a figurative word with a literal one. In the following passage from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, zeugma humorously exaggerates the sense of tediousness the character is feeling.
The song below from Shakespeares’s Cymbeline (Act IV, Scene 2) employs dark humor and irony to emphasize how all hardships of life end with death. The zeugma in the last lines emphasizes that both the privileged and the humble will meet the same fate.
Nor the furious winter’s rages;
Thou thy worldly task hast done,
Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages:
Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.
Frequently asked questions about zeugma
- What is an example of zeugma?
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The phrase “The storm sank my boat and my dreams” is an example of zeugma. Instead of using a more literal phrasing like “My boat sank in the storm, and I couldn’t realize my dreams,” the speaker employs zeugma by combining the literal and figurative senses of the verb “sank” to underscore the sadness over the loss of both a boat and a lifelong dream.
