Majaz mursal: one word designates another related referent—for example, “eyes” for spies.
Majaz murakkab: several words together form an utterance whose total function is transferred or used beyond the apparent informative purpose.
Word count alone is not the criterion. A long sentence may contain a figurative single word while the rest remains literal. In compound figurative usage, the function of the total expression is the subject of analysis.
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Metonymy, Compound Figurative Expression and Mental Attribution
Majaz mursal: one word designates another related referent—for example, “eyes” for spies.
Majaz murakkab: several words together form an utterance whose total function is transferred or used beyond the apparent informative purpose.
Word count alone is not the criterion. A long sentence may contain a figurative single word while the rest remains literal. In compound figurative usage, the function of the total expression is the subject of analysis.