Anthimeria

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In rhetoric, anthimeria, traditionally and more properly called antimeria (from the Greek: ἀντί, antí, "against, opposite" and μέρος, méros, "part"), is the use of a word as if it were a member of a different word class (part of speech); typically, the use of a noun as if it were a verb.

Examples

• "I'll unhair thy head." (Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra, II, v.)
• "The thunder would not peace at my bidding". (Shakespeare, King Lear, IV, vi.)
• "Me, dictionary-ing heavily, 'Where was the one they were watching?'" (Ernest Hemingway, Green Hills of Africa)

See also

• Figure of speech
• Verbification

References

Corbett, Edward P. J. Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student. Oxford University Press, New York, 1971.

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