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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread It just got more confusing... #168484 05/30/2007 7:21 AM Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 631 Hydra addict Hydra addict Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 631 I reluctantly add to the vexing "synecdoche or metonymy" question the following two terms: Quote: Pars pro toto is Latin for "(taking) a part for the whole"; it is a kind of synecdoche. When used in a context of language it means that something is named after a part of it (or after a limited characteristic, in itself not necessarily representative for the whole). E.g. "glasses" is a "pars pro toto" name for something that consists of more than just two pieces of glass. The opposite of a pars pro toto is a totum pro parte, in which the whole is used to describe a part. Quote: Totum pro parte is Latin for "(taking) the whole for a part"; it refers to a kind of synecdoche. When used in a context of language it means that something is named after something of which it is only a part (or only a limited characteristic, in itself not necessarily representative for the whole). A pars pro toto is the opposite of a totum pro parte in which a part is used to describe the whole. Do we have an exploding head smilie? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: It just got more confusing... Hydra #168486 05/30/2007 9:57 AM Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague BranShea Carpal Tunnel BranShea Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague As long as you stick to the anisotropic approach you get a fine smile from me. (<^^>) Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: It just got more confusing... BranShea #168491 05/30/2007 11:26 PM Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 2,154 British Columbia, Canada Zed Pooh-Bah Zed Pooh-Bah Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 2,154 British Columbia, Canada So "Nice wheels" is an example of pars pro toto. and an example of totum pro parte would be ... ummm ... er ... ... anyone? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: It just got more confusing... Zed #168495 05/31/2007 2:55 AM Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 6 california Snap stranger Snap stranger Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 6 california Perhaps "nice shirt" when you are really complimenting the print on the fabric, not the collar details or the feel of the fabric or the overall style. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: It just got more confusing... Hydra #168500 05/31/2007 1:13 PM Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague BranShea Carpal Tunnel BranShea Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,295 Netherlands, the Hague Apologies for the lame response, Hydra. Synecdoche as a figure of speech seems to me to be the exact synonym for both the latin figures of speech. So for examples both ways: examples Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: It just got more confusing... BranShea #168505 05/31/2007 5:52 PM Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 631 Hydra addict Hydra addict Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 631 I've only just got my head around the whole synecdoche/metonymy thing. I have decided the best thing is just to pretend I never saw those two waggish Latinisms. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary Forum Statistics Forums16 Topics13,916 Posts230,355 Members9,209 Most Online5,626 Mar 4th, 2026 Newest Members Peripatetic Toad, JerryC, blvd, Tony Hood, Wood Delivery 9,209 Registered Users Top Posters(30 Days) wofahulicodoc 33 A C Bowden 10 Top Posters wwh 13,858 Faldage 13,803 Jackie 11,613 wofahulicodoc 11,191 tsuwm 10,542 LukeJavan8 9,974 Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210 AnnaStrophic 6,511 Wordwind 6,296 of troy 5,400

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