Communities

Writing
Writing
Codidact Meta
Codidact Meta
The Great Outdoors
The Great Outdoors
Photography & Video
Photography & Video
Scientific Speculation
Scientific Speculation
Cooking
Cooking
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Judaism
Judaism
Languages & Linguistics
Languages & Linguistics
Software Development
Software Development
Mathematics
Mathematics
Christianity
Christianity
Code Golf
Code Golf
Music
Music
Physics
Physics
Linux Systems
Linux Systems
Power Users
Power Users
Tabletop RPGs
Tabletop RPGs
Community Proposals
Community Proposals
tag:snake search within a tag
answers:0 unanswered questions
user:xxxx search by author id
score:0.5 posts with 0.5+ score
"snake oil" exact phrase
votes:4 posts with 4+ votes
created:<1w created < 1 week ago
post_type:xxxx type of post
Search help
Notifications
Mark all as read See all your notifications »
Q&A

Post History

28%
+0 −3
Q&A How did syn + ek + dekhesthai compound to signify 'synecdoche' (a figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole)?

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. 'synecdoche' doesn't ...

0 answers  ·  posted 2y ago by PSTH‭  ·  edited 1y ago by PSTH‭

Question etymology Greek
#4: Post edited by user avatar PSTH‭ · 2023-02-20T22:49:17Z (about 1 year ago)
  • How do _syn_, _ex-_, *dekhesthai* appertain to the Modern English definition of [synecdoche](https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/what-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](https://artsresearch.uwaterloo.ca/chiastic/display/figure_simple.php?q=synecdoche&n=1383)
  • >#### Etymology
  • >Gk. "to take with something else" or Gr. from sun "together with" and "a receiving from"
  • ### [Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/synecdoche)
  • > #### 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-_](https://www.etymonline.com/word/syn-?ref=etymonline_crossreference)) + _ek_ "out" (see [_ex-_](https://www.etymonline.com/word/ex-?ref=etymonline_crossreference)) + _dekhesthai_ "to receive," related to _dokein_ "seem good" (from PIE root [\*dek-](https://www.etymonline.com/word/*dek-?ref=etymonline_crossreference) "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](https://www.etymonline.com/word/metonymy?ref=etymonline_crossreference).
  • How do _syn_, _ex-_, *dekhesthai* appertain to the Modern English definition of [synecdoche](https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/what-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](https://artsresearch.uwaterloo.ca/chiastic/display/figure_simple.php?q=synecdoche&n=1383)
  • >#### Etymology
  • >Gk. "to take with something else" or Gr. from sun "together with" and "a receiving from"
  • ### [Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/synecdoche)
  • > #### 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-_](https://www.etymonline.com/word/syn-?ref=etymonline_crossreference)) + _ek_ "out" (see [_ex-_](https://www.etymonline.com/word/ex-?ref=etymonline_crossreference)) + _dekhesthai_ "to receive," related to _dokein_ "seem good" (from PIE root [\*dek-](https://www.etymonline.com/word/*dek-?ref=etymonline_crossreference) "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](https://www.etymonline.com/word/metonymy?ref=etymonline_crossreference).
#3: Post edited by user avatar PSTH‭ · 2023-02-20T22:26:16Z (about 1 year ago)
  • How did syn + ek + dekhesthai compound to signify 'synecdoche' (" a figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole")?
  • How did syn + ek + dekhesthai compound to signify 'synecdoche' (a figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole)?
  • How do _syn_, _ex-_, *dekhesthai* appertain to the modern definition of [synecdoche](https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/what-synecdoche)? I am baffled, because all three Greek morphemes appear UNRELATED to this literary term in Modern English.
  • 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](https://artsresearch.uwaterloo.ca/chiastic/display/figure_simple.php?q=synecdoche&n=1383)
  • >#### Etymology
  • >Gk. "to take with something else" or Gr. from sun "together with" and "a receiving from"
  • ### [Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/synecdoche)
  • > #### 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-_](https://www.etymonline.com/word/syn-?ref=etymonline_crossreference)) + _ek_ "out" (see [_ex-_](https://www.etymonline.com/word/ex-?ref=etymonline_crossreference)) + _dekhesthai_ "to receive," related to _dokein_ "seem good" (from PIE root [\*dek-](https://www.etymonline.com/word/*dek-?ref=etymonline_crossreference) "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](https://www.etymonline.com/word/metonymy?ref=etymonline_crossreference).
  • How do _syn_, _ex-_, *dekhesthai* appertain to the Modern English definition of [synecdoche](https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/what-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](https://artsresearch.uwaterloo.ca/chiastic/display/figure_simple.php?q=synecdoche&n=1383)
  • >#### Etymology
  • >Gk. "to take with something else" or Gr. from sun "together with" and "a receiving from"
  • ### [Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/synecdoche)
  • > #### 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-_](https://www.etymonline.com/word/syn-?ref=etymonline_crossreference)) + _ek_ "out" (see [_ex-_](https://www.etymonline.com/word/ex-?ref=etymonline_crossreference)) + _dekhesthai_ "to receive," related to _dokein_ "seem good" (from PIE root [\*dek-](https://www.etymonline.com/word/*dek-?ref=etymonline_crossreference) "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](https://www.etymonline.com/word/metonymy?ref=etymonline_crossreference).
#2: Post edited by user avatar PSTH‭ · 2023-02-20T22:25:01Z (about 1 year ago)
  • How did syn + ek + dekhesthai compound to signify "supply a thought or word; take with something else, join in receiving"?
  • How did syn + ek + dekhesthai compound to signify 'synecdoche' (" a figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole")?
  • In particular, the _ex-_ befuddles me, because _synekdekhesthai_ doesn't appear to signify any notion of outness or outwardness! I quote [Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/synecdoche).
  • >## 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-_](https://www.etymonline.com/word/syn-?ref=etymonline*crossreference) + _ek_ "out" (see [_ex-_](https://www.etymonline.com/word/ex-?ref=etymonline*crossreference)) + _dekhesthai_ "to receive," related to _dokein_ "seem good" (from PIE root _[dek-](https://www.etymonline.com/word/*dek-?ref=etymonline*crossreference)_ "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](https://www.etymonline.com/word/metonymy?ref=etymonline*crossreference).
  • How do _syn_, _ex-_, *dekhesthai* appertain to the modern definition of [synecdoche](https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/what-synecdoche)? I am baffled, because all three Greek morphemes appear UNRELATED to this literary term in Modern English.
  • 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](https://artsresearch.uwaterloo.ca/chiastic/display/figure_simple.php?q=synecdoche&n=1383)
  • >#### Etymology
  • >Gk. "to take with something else" or Gr. from sun "together with" and "a receiving from"
  • ### [Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/synecdoche)
  • > #### 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-_](https://www.etymonline.com/word/syn-?ref=etymonline_crossreference)) + _ek_ "out" (see [_ex-_](https://www.etymonline.com/word/ex-?ref=etymonline_crossreference)) + _dekhesthai_ "to receive," related to _dokein_ "seem good" (from PIE root [\*dek-](https://www.etymonline.com/word/*dek-?ref=etymonline_crossreference) "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](https://www.etymonline.com/word/metonymy?ref=etymonline_crossreference).
#1: Initial revision by user avatar PSTH‭ · 2021-10-31T23:32:08Z (over 2 years ago)
How did syn + ek + dekhesthai compound to signify "supply a thought or word; take with something else, join in receiving"?
In particular, the _ex-_ befuddles me, because _synekdekhesthai_ doesn't appear to signify any notion of outness or outwardness! I quote [Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/synecdoche).  
   

>## 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-_](https://www.etymonline.com/word/syn-?ref=etymonline*crossreference) + _ek_ "out" (see [_ex-_](https://www.etymonline.com/word/ex-?ref=etymonline*crossreference)) + _dekhesthai_ "to receive," related to _dokein_ "seem good" (from PIE root _[dek-](https://www.etymonline.com/word/*dek-?ref=etymonline*crossreference)_ "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](https://www.etymonline.com/word/metonymy?ref=etymonline*crossreference).