What is anthimeria?

Definition
	Anthimeria is the use of a member of one word class as if it were a member of another, thus altering its meaning.

Example (English)
	In the following example, unhair is an example of anthimeria. Although hair is normally used as a noun, in this instance it takes an -un prefix and is used as a verb: “I’ll unhair thy head.” (Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra, II, v, 64, cited by Corbett 1971 484 )

Generic
	An anthimeria is a kind of
	What is a trope?

Source
	Corbett 1971 484

Context for this page:

Concept module: anthimeria
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): A
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

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