metalepsis

Met`a`lep´sis

n.

1.

(Rhet.) The continuation of a trope in one word through a succession of significations, or the union of two or more tropes of a different kind in one word.

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metalepsis

a rhetorical device in which a word that is used figuratively is taken through a succession of its different meanings or two or more tropes are united in the use of a single word. — metaleptic, adj.

See also: Rhetoric and Rhetorical Devices

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

metalepsis - substituting metonymy of one figurative sense for another metonymy - substituting the name of an attribute or feature for the name of the thing itself (as in `they counted heads')