aprosdoketon
/ˌæp.ɹəsˈdɑ.kɪˌtɑn/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: 0.00 in modern English
19
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
3
Syllables
10
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A figure of speech where an expected word in an idiom is replaced unexpectedly by an unusual one, as in Rome wasn't built in a teacup.
noun
Any surprising use or interpretation of language.
Example Sentences
- "Is the poet saying "I do not chance on even a slight respect from you" or "I chance on a good amount of respect from you," a meaning which effectively postpones the aprosdoketon to the final line[?]"
- "In later restagings of the Thesmophoriazusae, as in the 1959 Frogs, Euripides made his appearance driving a motorcycle. This scenic aprosdoketon was, of course, an ingenious verbal and visual pun on the word mechane and its different meanings in ancient and modern Greek: "stage crane" and "motorbike," respectively."
Etymology
From Ancient Greek ἀπροσδόκητος (aprosdókētos, “unexpected”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: ἀπροσδόκητος
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˌæp.ɹəsˈdɑ.kɪˌtɑn/