Word of the Day for Monday December 12, 2005 tmesis \TMEE-sis\, noun: In grammar and rhetoric, the separation of the parts of a compound word, now generally done for humorous effect; for example, "what place soever" instead of "whatsoever place," or "abso-bloody-lutely." If on the first, how heinous e'er it be, To win thy after-love I pardon thee. --Shakespeare, Richard II His income-tax return, he remarked, was the "most rigged-up marole" he'd ever seen. --Frederic Packard In two words, im possible. --Samuel Goldwyn _________________________________________________________ Tmesis is from Greek tmesis, "a cutting," from temnein, "to cut." Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=9&q=tmesis