Syl*lep"sis (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. sy`llhpsis a taking together, from . See syllable, n.]

1. Rhet.

A figure of speech by which a word is used in a literal and metaphorical sense at the same time.

2. Gram.

The agreement of a verb or adjective with one, rather than another, of two nouns, with either of which it might agree in gender, number, etc.; as, rex et regina beati.

 

© Webster 1913.