Anthimeria

Anthimeria is a figure of speech in which a word typically used as one part of speech is employed as another. The most common pattern is a noun used as a verb or a verb used as a noun. The term derives from Greek and is often translated as “altering the part of speech.” In rhetoric and linguistics, anthimeria describes a functional shift or conversion, where a word keeps its form but changes its grammatical role and sometimes its sense.

Forms and examples: Denominal verbs arise when a noun becomes a verb, such as to Google something, to text someone, or to friend a contact. Conversely, verbs used as nouns—such as in “a text of the contract” or “give me a go”—also illustrate the device, though this direction is less common in contemporary usage. Anthimeria can create vivid imagery, humor, or efficiency by packing new meaning into familiar terms. It is especially frequent in poetry, advertising, and casual speech, and has become widespread in modern English.

Notes: The device is widely treated as both a natural linguistic process (conversion) and a deliberate rhetorical tool. Some scholars emphasize its role in lexical expansion; others note that excessive use can obscure meaning. Anthimeria thus sits at the intersection of language change and stylistic craft, illustrating how speakers bend and extend grammar to express new ideas.