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Today's Word "tmesis"

the separation of the parts of a compound word on

Published in Vocabulary

tmesis \TMEE-sis\ (noun) - In grammar and rhetoric, the separation of the parts of a compound word, now generally done for humorous effect; for example, "what place soever" instead of "whatsoever place," or "abso-bloody-lutely."

"...He proceeded to expound upon the intricacies of Eratosthenes' prose, with its anaphora, asyndeton, synesis and tmesis and other things besides." - Ross Leckie, 'Hannibal'

 

Tmesis is from Greek tmesis, "a cutting," from temnein, "to cut."


 

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