zeugma Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun use of a word to govern two or more words though appropriate to only one
    • `Mr. Pickwick took his hat and his leave' is an example of zeugma

WordNet

Zeug"ma noun
Etymology
L., from Gr. , fr. to yoke, join. See Yoke.
Definitions
  1. (Gram.) A figure by which an adjective or verb, which agrees with a nearer word, is, by way of supplement, referred also to another more remote; as, "hic illius arma, hic currus fuit;" where fuit, which agrees directly with currus, is referred also to arma.

Webster 1913