play of words

play of words (plural plays of words)

1. (narratology, rhetoric) The ordering of words in a text, speech, etc., taking regard for both the individual words (their meanings, sounds, etc.) and the interplay between them.
   • 1683, William Atwood, Three Letters to Dr. Sherlock Concerning Church-communion, Jonathan Robinson, page 16,

     Great is Diana of the Epheſians, and great is the uſe of the word Church, when good Crafts-maſters have the handling of it; and of all Men thoſe of Rome have ſucceeded beſt at this play of words.

   • 1988, Span, Issue 26, University of Queensland, page 104,

     At the outset the reader is fascinated by the complex surface play of words. In the poem 'Paraphrase' the play of words is likened to the play of imagery on the surface of a lake; words 'beckon' and 'whisper', luring the reader towards an undisclosed meaning or goal.

   • 2000, John A. Beck, Translators as Storytellers, Peter Lang, page 81:

     The components of that analysis will be: characterization of a main figure in the narrative, the use of time and the patterning play of words.

   • 2000, Stephanie Quinn, Why Vergil?, Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, page 3,

     In addition, the selections are organized to make a case for the value of the play of words and for their power, about ideas and history, and art.

2. Alternative form of play on words
   • 1695, "P. H." (translator),^[1] "Pierre Boher",^[1] The Art of Knowing Ones Self: Or, a Diligent Search After the Springs of Morality, Part II, Richard Bentley, page 47,

     For to ſhew that all this is but a Play of Words, it muſt be ſuppoſed, that there are two ſorts of Love which one may have of God, a Love of Intereſt, and a Love of pure Amity, as the Theologians call it.

   • 1964, Explorations, Volumes 1-13, Explorations Publishing Company, page 29,

     "Plays of words" in our culture are usually clever, abstract constructs, whereas in these stories^{[myths and fairy tales]} the multiple meanings of a term or the similarity of terms refer to experienced, meaningful realities.

   • 1976, ADAM International Review, Volumes 40-41, page 54:

     Proust is then "like Leda", receiving the swan: but by an unconscious play of words, resembling the plays of words in dreams, Marcel is also he who has received the sign ("signe" = "cygne") of literary genius, certainly, but also of homosexuality, of hermaphroditism, even of Judaism.

• The two senses can at times be easily confounded. Thus the term might be (mis)construed as a misspelling of the more familiar play on words.

• wordplay