Synecdoche.
Synecdoche in Latine called Intellectio, that is, an understanding,
and it is a forme of speech by which the Orator signifieth more or
lesse by a word, which the proper signification doth not expresse: and
it is by putting the whole for the part or the part for the whole.
By the whole is meant, the whole of a quantitie, the generall kind,
the plurall number, the matter of which things are made.
1. The whole put for a part. An example: An host so great as dranke
rivers drie, meaning a great part of rivers. An example of ye holy
Scriptures: “All the world came to heare the wisdome of
Salomon,”
1.Reg.10. understanding a great part of
the world, and not all the world as it is expressed.
2. The generall kind for the speciall kind. An example of the holy
Scripture: Preach the Gospell to all cratures, signifying to all
men, and not to any other Creature.
3. The Plurall number put for the singular Cicero to Brutus: We
deceived the people, and seemed Orators, understanding but himselfe.
4. The matter for the things made of that matter: They eate the
finest wheate, and drinke the sweetest grapes, by wheate is
understood bread, and by grapes wine.
5. Things following put for things going before: Thou shalt eat thy
bread in the sweat of thy face. Here by sweat following labor, is
signified labor going before sweate. Hitherto the more is
signified, and the lesse is understood.
Now contrariwise the part is expressed and the whole is understood.
An example of Scripture: I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter
under my roofe. Here by the roofe is signified the whole house.
Another example: “Blessed in the wormbe that bore
thee and the pappes which gave thee lucke.”
Luc.11.
There wombe & the pappes do signifie the mother, and in the holy
Scripture the soule is often put alone, and signifieth the whole man.
2 The speciall kind put for the general: it is not my sword that shall
helpe me, by sword is understood all kind of weapons, and maner of
defence. Another: “Man that not live by bread only,”
Mat.4. by bread is signfified all kind of food an
nourishment.
3 The singular number for the plural: A man borne of a woman hath but
a short time to live, meaning all men. The Romane was victor in
battle, understanding the Romane host.
4 By things going before, things following are signified: He put the
people to the sword and the citie to the fire. Here by these words
sword and fire is signified the generall slaughter of the people, and
utter destruction of the citie, which presently folowed. Another
example of the holy Scripture: Say to the sonnes of Amon the sword is
drawne, here by the drawne sword is signfified the slaughter ensuing.
1. Wisedome required in the hearer. |
The Orator
useth this figure chiefly when he is well perswaded concerning the
wisedome of his hearers, that they are of sufficient capacitie and
understanding to collect his meaning, whereupon he maketh the bolder
to remove his speech from the vulgar
maner of speaking to a figurative forme, whereby he
giveth it a
3. A further consideration of the
sense. |
grace which otherwise it should want, forcing the
understanding of his hearer to a deeper consideration of the sense and
meaning.
The Caution.
These observations concerning this figure ought to be thought upon.
1. Apt choice of the partes. |
first that when a
part is put for the whole, there be a discreete choise of that part:
the roofe is put many times for the house, but not the window, nor the
rafters.
2. Choice of the speciall kind. |
2. Secondly,
that there be likewise a choyse of the speciall kinds when they
signifie the generall.
3. Not to be used in pleas nor in cuideces. |
3
Also it is to be remembred that this figure ought not to be used in
judiciall pleading, for there a part may not stand for the whole, nore
the whole for a part, without some wrong to the one partie or to the
other.
4. Unfit among ignorant persons. |
4 Lastly the
use of this figure is very unfit among ignorant hearers which for
lacke of knowledge may mistake it, and likewise
5. Captious cavillers may abuse it. |
among cavilling
and captious persons, which of wilfull perversenesse may canily
pervert the true meaning, either by malice or mockerie.
