How Do You Spell HYPALLAGE?

Pronunciation: [hˈa͡ɪpalɪd͡ʒ] (IPA)

Hypallage is a literary technique where words are swapped in a sentence to create an interesting effect. This word is pronounced /haɪˈpælədʒi/ and is spelled as it is due to its Greek origins. The "hypo" element means "under" or "beneath", and "allage" means "exchange", making hypallage an appropriate term for the literary device described. While not commonly used in everyday language, hypallage is an interesting concept for language enthusiasts and can add depth and complexity to writing.

HYPALLAGE Meaning and Definition

1. Hypallage is a literary device that is most commonly used in poetry and rhetoric. It refers to a figure of speech in which the expected or natural grammatical arrangement of words is intentionally inverted or reversed for stylistic effect.

   The term "hypallage" originates from the Greek word "hypallagein," which means "to exchange." In hypallage, words or phrases are exchanged or interchanged, resulting in an altered syntactic structure that defies conventional grammar rules. This alteration often involves attributing a description or action to an object or subject that would normally be associated with another.

   For example, a classic illustration of hypallage can be found in the phrase "sleepless night." In this case, the adjective "sleepless" is attributed to the night, even though it is the speaker who is unable to sleep, not the night itself. By deliberately changing the expected placement of the adjective, the writer creates a vivid and unconventional image that captures the essence of the sleepless experience.

   Hypallage serves as a powerful literary device because it challenges readers' perceptions and expectations, forcing them to engage with the text more actively. It enhances the descriptive abilities of the writer by allowing them to create striking and imaginative imagery through textual manipulation. Ultimately, the use of hypallage contributes to the overall aesthetic and artistic value of a literary work, adding depth, complexity, and ambiguity to the language employed.

2. A figure of speech in which words are made to interchange their cases, tenses, or relations.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for HYPALLAGE

• gypallage
• bypallage
• nypallage
• jypallage
• uypallage
• yypallage
• htpallage
• hgpallage
• hhpallage
• hupallage
• h7pallage
• h6pallage
• hyoallage
• hylallage
• hy-allage
• hy0allage
• hypzllage
• hypsllage
• hypwllage

Etymology of HYPALLAGE

The word "hypallage" has its roots in the Greek language. It is derived from the Greek word "hypallagma" (ὑπάλλαγμα), which means "interchange" or "exchange". The term "hypallage" was then adopted into English from Latin, where it refers to a figure of speech in which the grammatical relationship between words is altered or interchanged.

Plural form of HYPALLAGE is HYPALLAGES