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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 3y ago by PSTH‭  ·  edited 1y ago by PSTH‭

Question etymology Greek
#4: Post edited by user avatar PSTH‭ · 2023-02-20T22:49:17Z (over 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 (over 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 (over 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 (about 3 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).