What is "syllepsis"

Syllepsis \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.

use of a word at once in both a literal and metaphoric sense, 1570s, from Late Latin syllepsis, from assimilated form of Greek syn "together" (see syn-) + lepsis "a taking," related to lambanein (see analemma). Related: Sylleptic.

n. 1 (context rhetoric English) A figure of speech in which one word simultaneously modifies two or more other words such that the modification must be understood differently with respect to each modified word; often causing humorous incongruity 2 (context botany English) growth in which lateral branches develop from a lateral meristem, without the formation of a bud or period of dormancy, when the lateral meristem is split from a terminal meristem.

1. n. use of a word to govern two or more words though agreeing in number or case etc. with only one

2. [also: syllepses (pl)]