Enallage

/ɪˈnæl.ɪdʒ/ noun

Definition

A figure of speech in which grammatical structures or forms are substituted for one another, such as using a plural for a singular or vice versa.

Etymology

From Greek 'enallaxis' (exchange). The rhetorical term describes the intentional swapping of grammatical forms for stylistic effect.

Kelly Says

Poets and writers use enallage all the time—when Shakespeare writes 'the purple night' instead of 'the night is purple,' he's swapping adjective placement for dramatic effect.

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