WordNet-Online
Free dictionary and thesaurus of English. Definitions, synonyms, antonyms and more...
Hint: double-click any word to get it searched!

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.wordnet-online.com

Definitions from WordNet

Definitions from the Web

Metalepsis

Description:

Metalepsis is a rhetorical device that involves the transgression of normal boundaries or levels of reality within a narrative or discourse. It is a figure of speech where a word or a phrase from one context is used in another context, resulting in a shift of meaning. Metalepsis can often create irony, humor, or profound insights.

Examples:

Sense 1 - Figure of Speech (General):

Example: "He broke my heart, so I broke his car window."
Explanation: In this sentence, the phrase "broke his car window" is a metalepsis as it uses the word "broke" from the emotional context of "breaking the heart" and applies it to the physical action of breaking a car window.

Sense 2 - Literary Device:

Example: "And in the valley of the shadow of death, he saw life."
Explanation: In this sentence, the phrase "valley of the shadow of death" is a metalepsis as it represents a figurative notion of extreme darkness and danger, but the word "saw life" introduces a shift in meaning, suggesting hope or positive experiences within that darkness.

Sense 3 - Popular Culture:

Example: "She waved her magic wand and the laptop sprung to life."
Explanation: In this sentence, the phrase "sprung to life" is a metalepsis as it uses the word "life" from the metaphorical concept of magical actions and applies it to the inanimate object, the laptop, indicating a sudden activation or responsiveness.

Related Products:

• Books on Metalepsis
• Metalepsis in Literature
• Metalepsis in Film