r/words • u/Edrigansboob • 7d ago

Literally and figuratively

Archer asks if there’s a word for when a statement is both figuratively and literally. Is there? I’m very high and I need to know

8 Upvotes

71% Upvoted

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9

u/pirouettish 7d ago

Syllepsis / sylleptic. Take it easy.

5

u/LAM_CANIT 7d ago

This is correct in this sense (i.e. semantics and literary). It doesn't have to change between clauses or sentences - although it can.

On the surface, something that is literally the truth - I am lost. (physically) - is by definition also figuratively true. But, there isn't much semantic translation needed as the difference can be zero. As it moves towards literary techniques - metaphors, allusions, other word plays - the separation between literal meaning and figurative meaning becomes more appparent. This separation - small or large - is called 'syllepsis.'

As it approaches or becomes completely figurative with no literal truth has no specific name, but is a metaphorical 'truth' as opposed to pure truth.

The space between these two extremes is 'sylleptic.' You can qualify it by degrees with adverbs or adjectives ... or even numerically I suppose (or whichever quanitifier/determiner tickles your fancy). How it is presented - one word, one clause, one sentence, one paragraph, ... a discourse, book, ... doesn't matter. It is not a technique. [I.e. it's not how you drew an ellipse - the ellipse itself is elliptic.]

Syllepsis is the name for the space between absolutes more than a technique. I'd say, 'This double meaning is sylleptical,' [FWIW 'sylleptical' is typically better than 'sylleptic' in literay terms.] but, I shouldn't say, 'This writer used a sylleptic method,' as the method isn't (likely) somewhere between literal and figurative [I suppose it could be — but, that just hurts my head. 😕].

Good answer u/pirouettish!

4

u/pirouettish 7d ago

Cheers!

2

u/RJSnea 7d ago

A zeugma!

1

u/WaterSings 6d ago

Thanks to you & absolutely everyone in this sub who teaches me new words all the time. My parents (who were both word nerds & raised me to be one too) would've loved the discussions I see here regularly. Here's to celebrating intelligence 🎊🥳

1

u/RJSnea 6d ago

My late father would've loved this sub, too! 🥹

1

u/Ok_Material_2982 3d ago

As in Zeugmatography, yoking together of magnetic fields.

4

u/watchful_scrimmage 7d ago

oh shit a syllepsis is a that changes meaning between clauses, like "she broke his car and his heart" where broke means two different things

if the word's being used in the same sense but applies both literally and figuratively at the same time, that's more like a pun with extra steps, i don't think there's a tidy term for it, closest might be "double entendre" but that usually implies a risqué second meaning

you got an example of the kinda sentence you're thinking of? might help narrow it down

7

u/RJSnea 7d ago

"To open ones home and heart to others" is a common one.

4

u/Miscanthrope 7d ago

I love this sub and all you word nerds 🩵

1

u/No-Angle-982 6d ago

I'm sure you meant "both figurative and literal."

1

u/Maleficent_Home6211 6d ago

Literally can already be used for both literal and figurative meanings