Antanaclasis
Pattern
X... X — same word, different meanings
Definition
Repetition of a word in two or more different senses within the same context.
Examples
Example 1
Put your trust in God, but keep your powder dry.
Attributed to Oliver Cromwell
"Trust" shifts from spiritual faith to practical reliance
Example 2
If you aren't fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm.
Vince Lombardi
"Fired" pivots from meaning "ignited with passion" to "terminated from employment"
Example 3
Your argument is sound — all sound.
Benjamin Franklin
"Sound" shifts from "logically valid" to "mere noise," turning a compliment into a dismissal
AI Detection Note
Rare in AI text. LLMs tend to use words consistently in a single sense within a passage. Deliberately shifting the meaning of a repeated word requires a playful intentionality that AI rarely demonstrates.
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