Posted on 11/29/2012 4:43:43 AM PST by secret garden
In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day".
anacoluthon \an-uh-kuh-LOO-thon\, noun
1. A construction involving a break in grammatical sequence, as It makes me so—I just get angry.
2. An instance of anacoluthia.
Example sentences:
She employed, not from any refinement of style, but in order to correct her imprudences, abrupt breaches of syntax not unlike that figure which the grammarians call anacoluthon or some such name.
-- Marcel Proust, The Remembrance of Things Past
Sometimes there is no main verb at all, or the sentence is an anacoluthon, beginning in one way and ending in another.
-- Anthony Hope, The Prisoner of Zenda
Etymology:
Anacoluthon has a very literal meaning in Greek. The root kolouth- meant "march." However this root has two prefixes. First, the prefix a- means "together." The other prefix "an-" means "not following." In Greek anakólouthos meant "not following."
The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day. The Review threads are linked for your edification. ;-)
Practice makes perfect.....post on....
Review Thread One: Word For The Day, Thursday 11/14/02: Raffish
Review Thread Two: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/14/03: Roister
Review Thread Three: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/28/03: Obdurate
WFB's attempt to emulate us ; ) No pushing at the door please!
Rise and shine!
That was exceptionally informative...Look, a squirrel!!!
“So we were following along with the events transpiring in the Benghazi complex and then ... Squirrel!” — Embarrassador Susan Rice
Great minds think ... uh, what were we talking about?
Now is the time for all good men...Oh to hell with it.
I bet the most common anacoluthon was on Election eve:
“We’ll finally be rid of that- SUNUVABEECH!!!!”
I always thought an anacoluthon was someone who was crazy about--WAIT--that's wrong!
Giant Anacoluthon
Anacoluthons are not too different from paraprosdokians.
Example of a paraprosdokian: Where there’s a will, I want to be in it.
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A for you! I have lost all my old data for the thread due to a computer crash. Sorry if replacements aren’t showing up correctly.
What’s the word for a sentence that abruptly stops mid-stream, usually after the verb? I’ve got a close relation who can simply not finish a sentence. Most just fade away about half-way through leaving the listener waiting endlessly for the end. Hasn’t improved in 30 years.
Ann looks nice - is that a boob job?
So, Democrats like free enterprise, entrepreneurs, small business and socialism.
Cognitive dissonance much?
Good morning! Tomorrow is just a day away.....
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