syl·lep·sis / səˈlepsis/ • n. (pl. -ses / -sēz/ ) a figure of speech in which a word is applied to two others in different senses (e.g., caught the train and a bad cold) or to two others of which it grammatically suits only one (e.g., neither they nor it is working). Compare with zeugma.DERIVATIVES: syl·lep·tic / -tik/ adj.

syllepsis (gram.) figure by which one word or form is made to refer to two or more in the same sentence while strictly applying to only one. XVI. — late L. syllēpsis — Gr. súllēpsis, f. SYL- + lēpsis taking, f. lēb- lāb- lab-, base of lambánein take.