syllepsis

UK: /sɪˈlɛpsɪs/ US: (si lep′sis)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

syl•lep•sis  (si lep′sis), n., pl. -ses (-sēz). 

Grammar the use of a word or expression to perform two syntactic functions, esp. to modify two or more words of which at least one does not agree in number, case, or gender, as the use of are in Neither he nor we are willing. Cf. zeugma. 

• Greek sýllēpsis, equivalent. to syl- syl- + lēb- (variant stem of lambánein to take) + -sis -sis
• Medieval Latin syllēpsis
• 1570–80;

syl•lep•tic  (si lep′tik), adj.  syl•lep′ti•cal•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

syllepsis / sɪˈlɛpsɪs/ noun ( -ses / -siːz/)

1. (in grammar or rhetoric) the use of a single sentence construction in which a verb, adjective, etc is made to cover two syntactical functions, as the verb form have in she and they have promised to come
2. another word for zeugma

Etymology: 16th Century: from Late Latin, from Greek sullēpsis, from sul- syn- + lēpsis a taking, from lambanein to take

sylˈleptic, sylˈleptical adjective

sylˈleptically adverb