antanaclasis

noun

ant·anac·la·sis ˌan-tə-ˈna-klə-səs

: the repetition of a word within a phrase or sentence in which the second occurrence utilizes a different and sometimes contrary meaning from the first

… believes the "Word" … in John 1:1 represents the figure antanaclasis … and changes its meaning each time it is repeated in a manner similar to Ben Franklin's quip, "We must all hang together or most assuredly we shall all hang separately."—

Ventura County Star, 6 Sept. 1997

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin (cited in Greek form in Quintilian), borrowed from Greek antanáklasis "reflection, echo," from ant- anti- entry 1 + anáklasis "bending back, reflection"

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of antanaclasis was in 1656

See more words from the same year