Anthimeria (Greek: "one part for another") is the use of a word of one class as if it were a member of another, typically the use of a noun as a verb.

Examples:

• "I'll unhair thy head." (Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra, II, v.)
• "The thunder would not peace at my bidding". (Shakespeare, King Lear, IV, vi.)
• "Me, dictionary-ing heavily, 'Where was the one they were watching?'" (Ernest Hemingway, Green Hills of Africa)
• "Gift him with Playboy." - Promotional Letter for Playboy Magazine

References

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Corbett, Edward P. J. Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student. Oxford University Press, New York, 1971.

External links

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• It Figures-Figures of Speech

See also

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• Figure of speech
• Verbification

Word coinage