What does merism mean?

Definitions for merism
merism

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word merism.


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Wiktionary

  1. merismnoun

    Referring to something by its polar extremes.

  2. merismnoun

    Referring to something by a list of its parts.

Wikidata

  1. Merism

    In law, a merism is a figure of speech by which a single thing is referred to by a conventional phrase that enumerates several of its parts, or which lists several synonyms for the same thing. In rhetoric a merism is the combination of two contrasting words, to refer to an entirety. For example, when we mean to say that someone searched thoroughly, everywhere, we often say that someone "searched high and low". You also say "ladies and gentlemen" and the "'young and old"'. Merisms also figure in a number of familiar English expressions. The phrase lock, stock, and barrel originally referred to the parts of a gun, by counting off several of its more conspicuous parts; it has come to refer to the whole of anything that has constituent parts. Basically, {phrase} and everything in between - all encompassing. In biology, a merism is a repetition of similar parts in the structure of an organism. Such features are called meristic characters, and the study of such characters is called meristics. Merisms are conspicuous features of Biblical poetry. For example, in Genesis 1:1, when God creates "the heavens and the earth", the two parts combine to indicate that God created the whole universe. Similarly, in Psalm 139, the psalmist declares that God knows "my downsitting and mine uprising", indicating that God knows all the psalmist's actions.

Anagrams for merism »

  1. simmer

  2. mermis

How to pronounce merism?

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of merism in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of merism in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5


Translations for merism

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"merism." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/merism>.

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