| synecdoche |
| Definition - A figure of speech where a part of something is used to refer to the whole (and vice versa). Note: As opposed to metonymy where a thing that is associated with something but is not part of it is used to refer to it, e.g., calling the ocean the deep. |
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Example - (1) Saying hired hands instead of workers (part for whole) and (2) Saying the law instead of the police (whole for part) |
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Etymology - The term derives from the Greek synekdokhe, a receiving together (from syn, with + ek, out + dekhesthai, to receive). |
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Oxford English Dictionary - Its first citation is from 1388: "Bi a figure clepid synodoches [v.r. synadochie], whanne a part is set for al, either al is set for oo part." (Wyclif's Bible, Prol. xii. (1850) 47) |