anacoluthon

an·a·co·lu·thon  (n-k-lthn)

n. pl. an·a·co·lu·thons or an·a·co·lu·tha (-th)

An abrupt change within a sentence to a second construction inconsistent with the first, sometimes used for rhetorical effect; for example, I warned him that if he continues to drink, what will become of him?

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[Late Latin, from Late Greek anakolouthon, inconsistency in logic, from Greek, neuter of anakolouthos, inconsistent : an-, not; see a-¹ + akolouthos, following (a-, together; see sem-¹ in Indo-European roots + keleuthos, path).]

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ana·co·luthic adj.

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anacoluthon

a lack of grammatical sequence or coherence, as “He ate cereal, fruit, and went to the store.” Also anacoluthia. — anacoluthic, adj.

See also: Grammar

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

anacoluthon - an abrupt change within a sentence from one syntactic structure to another anacoluthia rhetorical device - a use of language that creates a literary effect (but often without regard for literal significance)