Hypallage, pronounced hy-PAL-uh-jee, rearranges the expected relationship between words; a transferred epithet is a familiar form. In “an impatient cursor,” the impatience belongs to the person waiting, not to the blinking mark. It is useful for noticing when prose lends a mental state to the surrounding object without writing a full personification. Merriam-Webster · Collins
Word: hypallage
A transferred relationship between words.
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Link to noteOriginally published 19 October 2026. Reporting, forecasts, prices, odds and event availability reflect the original edition.
Sources & further reading
- Merriam-Webster merriam-webster.com
- Collins collinsdictionary.com