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n. pl. an·a·co·lu·thons or an·a·co·lu·tha (-thə) An abrupt change within a sentence to a second construction inconsistent with the first, sometimes used for rhetorical effect; for example, I warned him that if he continues to drink, what will become of him? [Late Latin, from Late Greek anakolouthon, inconsistency in logic, from Greek, neuter of anakolouthos, inconsistent : an-, not; see A-1 + akolouthos, following (a-, together; see sem-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + keleuthos, path).] an′a·co·luthic adj. |
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