How do syn, ex-, dekhesthai appertain to the Modern English definition of synecdoche? I am baffled, because all 3 Greek morphemes appear UNRELATED to this literary term.

1. 'synecdoche' doesn't appertain to "with" or (any notion of) togetherness. What does syn mean here?

2. 'synecdoche' doesn't appertain to (any notion of) outness or outwardness! What does ex- mean here?

3. How's dekhesthai ("to receive") relevant to synecdoches? What do synecdoches receive? From where or whom do synecdoches receive (whatever it is that synecdoches receive)?

University of Waterloo

Etymology

Gk. "to take with something else" or Gr. from sun "together with" and "a receiving from"

Etymonline

synecdoche (n.)

"figure of speech in which a part is taken for the whole or vice versa," late 15c. correction of synodoches (late 14c.),
from Medieval Latin synodoche, alteration of Late Latin synecdoche,
from Greek synekdokhe "the putting of a whole for a part; an understanding one with another," literally "a receiving together or jointly,"
from synekdekhesthai "supply a thought or word; take with something else, join in receiving,"
from syn- "with" (see syn-) + ek "out" (see ex-) + dekhesthai "to receive," related to dokein "seem good" (from PIE root *dek- "to take, accept").

Typically an attribute or adjunct substituted for the thing meant ("head" for "cattle," "hands" for "workmen," "wheels" for "automobile," etc.). Compare metonymy.

posted about 3 years ago

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1y ago

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