Gram. and Rhet. Also 4–5 syn-, sinodoches, 5 synadochie, 6 sinecdochine, senec(h)doche, 6–7 synechdoche, 7 sinecdoche, synegdoche, synechdochie. Also anglicized 6 sinecdoch. [a. late L. synecdoche (in med.L. sinodoche, whence obs. F. synodoche), a. Gr. συνεκδοχή, f. συνεκδέχεσθαι lit. to take with something else, f. σύν SYN- + ἐκδέχεσθαι to take, take up. Cf. F. synecdoche, -doque, It. sineddoche, Sp. siné(c)doque, Pg. synecdoche.
The form sinecdochine represents the acc. synecdochen, συνεκδοχήν, and synodoches is a new nom. formed upon it; cf. syncopis, -in, s.v. SYNCOPE.]
A figure by which a more comprehensive term is used for a less comprehensive or vice versâ; as whole for part or part for whole, genus for species or species for genus, etc.
Formerly sometimes used loosely or vaguely, and not infrequently misexplained.
1388. Wyclif’s Bible, Prol., xii. (1850), 47. Bi a figure clepid synodoches [v.r. synadochie], whanne a part is set for al, either al is set for oo part.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), IV. 263. Criste was seide to be in the … herte of therthe thre daies and iij. nyȝhtes by a figure callede sinodoches, after Seynte Austyn, sythe Criste reste not in his sepulcre but by xlll howres.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., Resurr. (1892), 52. Jhesus was in the sepulcre iii dayes & iii nyghtes. But after saynt austyn the first day is taken by synecdoche, that is, that the last part of the day is taken [etc.].
1548. R. Hutten, Sum of Diuinitie, E ij b. They imagyne a Sinecdoch to be in thys worde. Ibid., F viij b. The subtyll cauillacyons, whereby they fayne Sinecdochine.
1551. T. Wilson, Logike (1580), 75. Therefore, whereas I saie, the Churche doeth not erre, it is called Synechdoche, that is to saie, when the parte is vsed for the whole [sic].
1602. Marston, Ant. & Mel., V. Wks. 1856, I. 55. I did send for you to drawe me a devise, an Imprezza, by Sinecdoche a Mott.
1612. J. Mason, Anat. Sorc., 56. By these two blessings (to wit) the sunne & raine meaning al other earthly benefits whatsoever, by the figure synechdoche.
1638. Chillingw., Relig. Prot., I. v. § 94. 295. By a Synecdoche of the whole for the part, he might be said to forsake the Visible Church.
1657. J. Smith, Myst. Rhet., 44. Of the Grammarians it is called a Synecdoche, or Comprehension, when a common word or name is restrained to a part which is expressed by the Accusative Case…: as, Æthiops albus dentes, an Ethiopian white in the teeth; here, white agreeing to the teeth only, is attributed to the whole Ethiopian.
1660. Jer. Taylor, Worthy Commum., I. iii. 58. It is by a Metonymy and a Sacramental Manner of speaking, yet it is also a synecdoche of the part for the whole.
1718–31. J. Trapp, trans. Virg. Eclogues, I. 87, note (ed. 2), I. 11. Aristas, by a Metonymy of the Adjunct, for Harvests; and Those by a Synecdoche, for Years.
1872. Minto, Engl. Prose Lit., Introd. 15. Metaphors, personifications, synecdoches and metonymy in almost every sentence.
1900. R. J. Drummond, Apost. Teach., viii. This ordinance was frequently by synecdoche spoken of as the Breaking of Bread.
