Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
hapax
Noun
/ˈhæpæks/
Definition
A word or expression that occurs only once in a particular text, corpus, or language.
Examples
- In the study of ancient texts, scholars often search for hapax legomena to gain insights into the language of the period.
- The poet used a hapax that contributed to the uniqueness of her work, making it difficult to analyze.
- Finding a hapax in a literary piece can lead to interesting discussions about the author’s intent and stylistic choices.
Meaning
The term ‘hapax’ is derived from the Greek word ‘hapax legomenon’, which refers specifically to a word that appears only a single time within a context, such as a written work or a collection of texts.
Synonyms
- Once-used word
- Rare word
- Unique expression
