Glossary
Definition of word.
double entendre
dou-ble en-ten-dre
A double entendre is an expression in which more than one interpretation or meaning is conveyed. The author willfully gives one statement to convey two messages to his mixed audience knowing that some will catch only one meaning while others will catch two meanings based upon their individual abilities to hear or detect multiple meanings. A double entendre is often used as a tool to hide an offensive meaning from one class of hearers. The double entendre is fully understood to those who have mature understanding of the author's intent and vocabulary, an understanding which might develop with study or age.
An example of a double entendre is when Jesus told His disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. The apostles missed the true meaning held in the symbolism of leaven (meaning corrupt teaching) because they defaulted to the ordinary meaning of leaven used in bread.
"Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees" (Mt. 16:6-12, KJV with italics added).
Another example of a double entendre is Jesus' use of "temple" in John 2:19-22 as a reference to His body.
The title Balancing the Sword is a double entendre in that the words within the title have multiple meanings. The books are perfectly distributed or balanced in scope and content. Likewise, the word balance means to have properly distributed understanding of all subjects, including the seemingly contrary topics.
Author: Allen B. Wolfe
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