Tuesday, December 13, 2005

tmesis

tmesis \TMEE-sis\, noun:
In grammar and rhetoric, the separation of the parts of a compound word, now generally done for humorous effect; for example, "what place soever" instead of "whatsoever place," or "abso-bloody-lutely."

Tmesis is from Greek tmesis, "a cutting," from temnein, "to cut."

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