The Online Dictionary of Language Terminology (ODLT)


merism
Definition - (Aka merismus)

A figure of speech in which the whole thing is mentioned by naming some of its parts.

Example -

(1) He search high and low
(he searched everywhere).

(2) God created the heavens and the earth
(God created the universe)

Etymology -
The term - which has no OED citation - derives from the Greek merismos, dividing or partitioning.



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