agnomination [Latin agnominatio. See AGNOMEN. Latin, from ad to and nomen name.] 2.

Rhetoric Paronomasia; i.e., a play upon words in which the same word is used in different senses
or words similar in sound are set in opposition, so as to give antithetical force; punning; a pun.
Also, alliteration.
alliteration [Middle Latin alliteratio. See AD-; LETTER.] 1. repetition of the same letter or
sound at the beginning of two or more consecutive words or of words near one another; as in:
Fly oer waste fens and windy fields. ( Tennyson). 2. Specifically, recurrence of the same
consonant sound or of vowel sounds initially in accented syllables of verse (See ALLITERATIVE
POETRY); as in: In a somer season whan soft was the sonne, I shope me in shrouds as I a shepe
were. ( Piers Plowman)
allegory [French or Latin; French allgorie, from Latin allegoria from Greek allegoria
description of one thing under the image of another, from allos other (See ELSE) and a form
akin to Greek agoreuein to speak in the assembly, to harangue, agora place of assembly.
See GREGARIOUS. Cf. AGORAPHOBIA.] 1. The veiled presentation, especially in a figurative
story or narrative, of a meaning metaphorically implied, but not expressly stated. An allegory is a
prolonged metaphor, in which typically a series of actions are symbolic of other actions, while the
characters often are types or personifications. Bunyans Pilgrims Progress, and Spensers
Faerie Queene are celebrated examples of the long allegory; Addisons Vision of Mirza is a
celebrated example of the short allegory. Synonymy: See FABLE. An allegory is the elaborate
development of a metaphor, frequently in narrative form, sometimes at considerable length; its
figures are commonly types or personifications, its incidents symbolic, its machinery more or less
artificial.
allusion [Latin allusio, from alludere to play with, to allude, from ad to and ludere to play.
See ALLUDE, LUDICROUS.] 2. An alluding; an implied indication or indirect reference; a hint;
often with to; as, a covert allusion to his pride. 3. An indirect reference in a discourse, by passing
mention or quotation, to something generally familiar; as, Popes allusions to Horace; also, the
use of such references.
anacoluthon plural anacolutha [ Greek anakolouthos, anakolouthon not following, wanting
sequence, from an not and akolouthos following.] Grammar a. A want of grammatical
sequence or consistency in a sentence. b. Abandonment in the midst of a sentence of one type of
construction in favor of one grammatically inconsistent. c. A sentence or expression in which the
latter part does not syntactically carry out the construction begin in the first part (If you dont
reform well, what can you expect?).
anadiplosis [Latin, from Greek anadiplosis, from ana on and diploun to double.] Rhetoric
Repetition of the last word ir any prominent word in a sentence or clause, at the beginning of the
next, with an adjunct idea (Rely on his honor honor such as his?).
analogy [French analogie, from Latin analogia, from Greek analogia, analogos according to a
due ratio, proportionate, ana on and logos ratio, proportion. See ANALOGOUS,
LOGIC.] 1. A relation of likeness, between two things or of one thing to another, consisting in the
resemblance not of the things themselves, but of two or more attributes, circumstances, or effects;
thus, the analogy between sleep and death lies in the attendant cessation of activity and
appearance of repose; and learning enlightens the mind because it is to the mind what light is to
the eye, enabling it to discover things before hidden. Analogy is very commonly used to denote
similarity or essential resemblance; but its specific meaning is a similarity of relations, and in this
consists the difference between the argument from example and that of analogy. In the former
we argue from the mere similarity of the two things, in the latter, from the similarity of their
relations.
anaphora [Latin, from Greek anaphora, from ana up, back and pherein to carry.] 1. Rhetoric
Repetition of a word or words at the beginning of two or more successive clauses.
anastrophe [Greek anastrophe, from anastrephein to turn up, to turn back, from ana- up and
strephein to turn.] Rhetoric Inversion of the usual order of words (Blessed are the meek).
anecdote [French, from Greek anekdotos not published, from an- not and ekdotos given out,
from ekdidonai to give out, to publish, from ek out and didonai to give. See DATE point
of time.] 2. A narrative, usually brief, of a separate incident or event of curious interest, told
without malice and usually with intent to amuse or please, often biographical and characteristic of
some notable person, especially his likable foibles. Synonymy: See STORY. An anecdote is a
short account of a single incident, especially in the life of a well-known person; as, an anecdote of
Lincolns boyhood.; an illustrative or pithy anecdote.
antiphrasis [Latin, from Greek antiphrasis, from antiphrazein to express by antithesis.] Rhetoric
The use of words in a sense opposite to the proper meaning.
antithesis plural antitheses [Latin, from Greek antithesis, from antitithenai to set against, to
oppose, from anti against and tithenai to set. See THESIS.] 1. Rhetoric a. An opposition or
contrast of ideas, especially one emphasized by the positions of the contrasting words, as when
placed at the beginning and end of a single sentence or clause, or in corresponding positions in
two or more sentences or clauses (Measures, not men; The prodigal robs his heir; the miser
robs himself). b. The second of two sentences or clauses in antithesis.
antonomasia [Latin, from Greek antonomasia, from antonomazein to name instead, from anti
against and onomazein to name, from onoma name.] Rhetoric a. The use of epithet, official
title, or the like, instead of the proper name of a person, as when his majesty is used for a king. b.
The use of a proper name instead of an appellative, as when a wise man is called a Solomon.
apologue [French apologue, from Latin apologus, from Greek apologos. See APOLOGY,
LEGEND. Greek apo from and logos speech.] 1. A story or relation of fictitious events,
intended to convey a useful lesson or a moral. The characters of apologues, as in those of Aesop
and La Fontaine, are often animals. Synonymy: See FABLE.
apophasis [New Latin, from Greek apophasis denial, from apophanai to speak out, to deny.]
1. Rhetoric Mention of something in disclaiming intention to mention it (I will not speak of his
unsavory past). Cf. PARALEPSIS.
aporia [Latin, doubt, from Greek aporia, from aporos without passage, at a loss, from a-
not and poros passage.] Rhetoric A professing, or matter about which one professes, to be at a
loss what course to pursue, where to begin, what to say, etc.
aposiopesis [Latin, from Greek aposiopesis, from aposiopan to be quite silent.] Rhetoric A
breaking off suddenly, as if unwilling or unable to state what was in ones mind (I declare to you
that his conduct but I cannot speak of that here).
apostrophe [French and Latin; French apostrophe, from Latin apostrophus apostrophe, the
turning away or omitting of a letter, from Greek apostophos, from apostrephein to turn away.]
Rhetoric 1. A feigned turning from ones audience to address directly a person or thing, now
usually a dead or absent person, or an abstract idea or imaginary object; as, Miltons apostrophe
to Light (Paradise Lost III: 1 55).
asyndeton [Latin, from Greek asyndeton, from asyndetos unconnected, from a- not and
syndetos bound together. See SYNDETIC.] Rhetoric Omission of conjunctions which
ordinarily join coordinate words or clauses (I came, I saw, I conquered.); opposed to
polysyndeton.
catachresis plural catachreses [Latin, from Greek katachresis misuse, from katachresthai to
misuse, from kata against, down and chresthai to use.] Misuse of words or abuse of terms:
a. Rhetoric Wrong use of one word for another (mutual for common); also, a wresting of a word
from its true signification, as in a forced trope, or a mixed metaphor (To take arms against a sea
of troubles. William Shakespeare). b. Philology The use of a word in an improper form
though a mistake as to its origin, as calcariferous for calciferous.
chiasmus [New Latin, from Greek chiasmos a placing crosswise, from chiazein to mark with a
chi () or a cross. See CHIASMA.] Rhetoric An inversion of the order of words in two
corresponding parallel phrases or clauses, or of words when repeated (Burns with one love, with
one resentment glows).
circumlocution [Latin circumlocutio from circumloqui, circumlocutus, to make use of
circumlocution, from circum round about, accusative of circus a circle, and loqui to speak.
See CIRCUS, LOQUACIOUS.] Use of many words to express an idea that may be expressed by
few or one word; indirect or roundabout language or expression. Synonymy: See
REDUNDANCY. Redundancy, tautology, pleonasm, verbosity, verbiage, prolixity, diffuseness,
circumlocution, periphrasis. Circumlocution and PERIPHRASIS (the latter being the more
bookish term) denote a roundabout or indirect way of saying a thing; as, Somehow I cant relish
that word hockey. Cant you supply it by a circumlocution? ( Lamb); He was one of those
anomalous practitioners in lower departments of the law who... on prudential reasons... deny
themselves all indulgence of the luxury of too delicate a conscience (a periphrasis which might be
abridge considerably) ( De Quincey). Antonyms: conciseness, brevity, terseness, succinctness,
pithiness.
climax [Latin, from Greek klimax ladder, staircase, from klinein to bend, to lean. See
LADDER, LEAN.] 1. Rhetoric A figure in which a number of ideas or propositions are so
arranged that each succeeding one rises above its predecessor in impressiveness or force.
Tribulation worketh patience, patience experience, and experience hope a happy climax. (
J. D. Forbes)
emphasis [Latin, from Greek emphasis significance, force of expression, from emphainein to
show, to show in, to indicate, from en in and phainein to make to appear. See PHASE,
PHENOMENON, PHANTOM.] 7. Rhetoric a. In reading or speaking, a particular prominence of
utterance given to one or more words or syllables by stress, length, or pitch, to attract or hold
attention to their special importance, emotional or logical, as when they are to be intensified or
contrasted. b. In style, selective stress on particular parts or features to intensify impressiveness.
enallage [Latin, from Greek enallage an exchange, from enallassein to exchange, from en in
and allassein to change.] Grammar A substitution, as of one part of speech for another, or of
one gender, number, case, person, tense, mode, or voice of the same word for another.
epanadiplosis [Late Latin, from Greek epanadiplosis, from epi on, upon, to and anadiploun
to make double. See also EPIDIPLOSIS.] Rhetoric Use of a word at both the beginning and
end of a sentence; encircling; as in, Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice or in,
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the
Lord (Psalms 27: 14).
epanalepsis [New Latin, from Greek epanalepsis, from epi on, upon, to and analambanein
to take up.] Rhetoric Repetition; echo.
epanaphora [Late Latin, from Greek epanaphora recurrence.] Rhetoric Anaphora; repetition of
a word or words at the beginning of two or more successive clauses. See ANAPHORA.
epanodos [Late Latin, from Greek epanodos a rising, a return, from epi on, upon, to and
anodos a way up, rising, from ana up and hodos way.] Rhetoric A return after digression;
also, a repetition in reverse order.
epanorthosis [Late Latin, from Greek epanorthosis, from epi on, upon, to and anorthoun to
set right again.] Repetition of a term to call attention to its use.
epibole [Latin, from Greek epibole a throwing upon, from epiballein to throw upon, to add
to, from epi on, upon, to and ballein to throw.] 1. Rhetoric Use in successive clauses of
initial words which are the same or similar in meaning; as in: The voice of the Lord is upon the
waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters. The voice of the Lord is
powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. The voice of the Lord is breaketh the cedars;
yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. (Psalms 29: 3 5). Cf. Hebraic repetition.
epidiplosis [See EPANADIPLOSIS.] Rhetoric Double encircling; repeated epanadiplosis; as in,
Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises (Psalms 47: 6). (The
preceding definition was found at the Web site below:)
http://www.therain.org/appendixes/app6.html
epiphonema [Latin, from Greek epiphonema, from epiphonein to mention.] Rhetoric An
exclamatory sentence, or striking reflection, which concludes a passage.
epistrophe [Late Latin, from Greek epistrophe a turning toward, return, from epistrephein to
turn toward, from epi upon, to and strephein to turn.] 1. Rhetoric Termination of successive
clauses or sentences with the same expression (Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites?
So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Second Corinthians 11: 22).
erotesis [New Latin, from Greek erotesis a questioning, from erotan to ask.] Rhetoric
Interrogation for rhetorical effect.
fable [Old French, from Latin fabula, from fari to speak, to say. See FAME.] 1b. A story of
supernatural or highly marvelous happenings, as in legend, myth, or folklore; also, such stories
collectively; as, founded in fable. 1c. A narration intended to enforce some useful truth or
precept; especially, one in which animals and even inanimate objects speak and act like human
beings. See BEAST FABLE. 1d. Any story told to excite wonder; hence, common talk; the
theme of talk. Synonymy: allegory, parable, fable, apologue. A fable or apologue (the latter
being the more bookish term) is a short story in which the actions or qualities of beasts or
inanimate objects are made to reflect, often satirically, human traits or foibles; as the fables of
Aesop. Cf. COMPARISON, STORY.
gemination [Latin geminatio, from geminare to double. See GEMINI.] e. Rhetoric Formerly,
the immediate repetition of a word or a locution expressing similar meaning.
Hebraic repetition: saying the same thing over and over again in different words; used by King
David in his writings. See EPIBOLE.
hendiadys [Late Latin, from Greek hen dia dyoin one by two.] Grammar Expression of an idea
by two nouns connected by and, instead of by a noun and an adjunct (we drink from cups and
gold for golden cups).
hypallage [Latin, from Greek hypallage, properly interchange, exchange, from hypallassein to
interchange, from hypo under and allassein to change.] Grammar and Rhetoric Interchange
in syntactic relationship between two terms.
hyperbaton [Latin, from Greek hyperbaton, from hyperbatos transposed, from hyper over and
bainein to step.] A transposing or inverting of the idiomatic word order (echoed the hills for the
hills echoed).
hyperbole [Latin, from Greek hyperbole, properly, an overshooting, excess; from Greek
hyperballein to throw over or beyond, from hyper over and ballein to throw. See also
HYPER-; PARABLE. Cf. HYPERBOLA.] Rhetoric Extravagant exaggeration by which
something is represented as much greater or less, better or worse, or as involving greater
intensity, than in reality, or beyond possibility (to dart with the speed of an arrow); a statement
exaggerated fancifully through excitement, or for effect (This my hand will rather The
multitudinous seas incarnadine. William Shakespeare). Somebody has said of the boldest
figure in rhetoric, the hyperbole, that it lies without deceiving. Thomas Babington Macaulay
(1800 1859), Baron Macaulay of Rothley, English historian, essayist, poet, and statesman.
hypozeugma [Latin, from Greek hypo under and zeugma, from zeugnynai to yolk, to join.]
Grammar The joining of several subjects with a single verb. Now rare.
hypozeuxis [New Latin, from Greek hypo under and zeuxis a joining.] Grammar The use of
successive clauses in a parallel construction, each complete with a subject and verb.
inversion [Latin inversio.] 15. Rhetoric a. Metaphor. Now obsolete. b. Anastrophe; inversion of
the usual order of words (Blessed are the meek). c. A turning of the tables in argument.
litotes [New Latin, from Greek litotes, from litos plain simple] Rhetoric Understatement to
avoid censure or to increase the effect (a citizen of no mean city, that is, of an illustrious city).
malapropism [From Mrs. Malaprop, a character in Richard Brinsley Sheridans (1751-1816)
Rivals, noted for her blunders in the use of words, from French mal propos inappropriate.] A
grotesque misuse of a word; also, a word so misused. (Sometimes appears as MALAPROP.)
meiosis [New Latin, from Greek meiosis, from meioun to make smaller, from meion.] 1.
Rhetoric Literally, belittling: a. Representation of a thing so as to cause it to be taken as less than
it really is. b. Litotes; understatement to avoid censure or to increase the effect (a citizen of no
mean city, that is, of an illustrious city).
metalepsis plural metalepses [Latin, from Greek metalepsis participation, alteration, from
metalambanein to partake, to take in exchange, from meta beyond and lambanein to take.]
Rhetoric Substitution by metonymy of one figurative sense for another. See METONYMY.
metaphor [French mtaphore, from Latin metaphora, from Greek metaphora, from metapherein
to carry over, to transfer, from meta beyond, over and pherein to bring, to bear. See
META-; BEAR to carry.] Rhetoric Use of a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object
or idea in place of another by way of suggesting a likeness or analogy between them (the ship
plows the sea; a valley of oaths). See TROPE. A metaphor may be regarded as a compressed
simile, the comparison implied in the former (a marble brow) being explicit in the latter (a brow
white like marble). Synonymy: comparison, simile, metaphor. A metaphor imaginatively
identifies one object with another, and ascribes to the first the qualities of the second; where the
simile declares that A is like B, the metaphor assumes that A is B; as, The spirit of man is the
candle of the Lord. (Proverbs 20:27) Was it the proud full sail of his great verse, bound for
the prize? (William Shakespeare) A metaphor may usually be expanded into a simile, and a
simile condensed into a metaphor. Cf. FABLE, METONYMY.
metonymy [Latin metonymia, from Greek metonymia, from meta indicating change and onymia,
onoma name. See NAME.] Rhetoric use of one word for another that it suggests, as the effect
for the cause, the cause for the effect, the sign for the thing signified, the container for the thing
contained, etc. (darkness was the saving of us, for the cause of saving; a man keeps a good table,
instead of good food; we read Vergil, that is, his poems; a man has a warm heart, that is, warm
affections). See TROPE. Synonymy: metonymy, synecdoche alike involve the substitution for
one idea of another closely allied to it. The technical distinction between the two, which may be
seen in the definitions, is now little noted, and the tendency now is to allow metonymy to do duty
for both. Cf. COMPARISON.
onomatopoeia [Late Latin, from Greek onomatopoiia, from onoma, onomatos a name and
poiein to make.] 1. Philology a. Formation of words in imitation of natural sounds; the naming
of a thing or action by a more or less exact reproduction of the sound associated with it (buzz;
hiss; bobwhite); the imitative or echoic principle in language. Cf. BOWWOW THEORY. b. A
word so formed; an onomatope. 2. Rhetoric The use of words whose sound suggests the sense.
When Ajax strives some rocks vast weight to throw,
The line too labors, and the words move slow;
Not so, when swift Camilla scours the plain,
Flies oer th unbending corn and skims along the main.
Alexander Pope (1688-1744), English poet.
oxymoron plural oxymora [New Latin, from Greek oxymoron, from oxymoros pointedly foolish,
from oxys sharp and moros foolish.] Rhetoric A combination for epigrammatic effect of
contradictory or incongruous words (cruel kindness; laborious idleness).
parable [Middle English, also parabole, from Old French parabole, from Latin parabola, from
Greek parabole a placing beside or together, a comparing, a comparison, a parable, from
paraballein to throw beside, compare, from para beside and ballein to throw. See also
PARA-; DEVIL. Cf. BALLISTIC, EMBLEM, HYPERBOLE, PALAVER, PARABOLA,
PARLANCE, PARLEY, PAROLE, PROBLEM, SYMBOL.] A comparison; similitude;
specifically, a short fictitious narrative of a possible event in life or nature, from which a moral or
spiritual truth os drawn; as, the parables of Christ. Synonymy: See FABLE.
paradiastole [Latin, from Greek paradiastole a putting together of dissimilar things.] Rhetoric
Contrast of similar things as for euphemism, as in styling prodigality, liberality.
paraleipsis, also paralepsis or paralipsis plural -ses [Greek paraleipsis, from paraleipein to leave
on one side, to omit, from para beside and leipein to leave.] Rhetoric A passing over with
brief mention so as to emphasize the suggestiveness of what is omitted (I confine to this page the
volume of his treacheries and debaucheries). Cf. APOPHASIS.
paregmenon Rhetoric derivation; the repetition of words derived from the same root; as in: And
I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church... (Matthew
16:18).
paromology, also, paromologia [Greek paramologia, from para beside and homologia
agreement, from homo the same and logos speech, discourse, proportion.] Rhetoric A
concession to an adversary in order to strengthen ones own argument.
paronomasia [Latin, from Greek paronomasia, from paronomazein to form a word by a slight
change, from para beside and onomazein to name, from onoma a name.] Rhetoric A play
upon words in which the same word is used in different senses or words similar in sound are set in
opposition, so as to give antithetical force; punning; a pun. Synonymy: See PUN.
periphrasis plural pariphrases [Latin, from Greek periphrasis, from peri around, about,
round and phrazein to speak. See PHRASE.] 1. Rhetoric Use of a longer phrasing in place of
a possible shorter and plainer form of expression, as use of a negative, passive, or inverted
construction, naming by descriptive epithet, introduction of abstract general terms, etc.; a
roundabout or indirect way of speaking; circumlocution. b. An instance of such use; a
circumlocution. Synonymy: Redundancy, tautology, pleonasm, verbosity, verbiage, prolixity,
diffuseness, circumlocution, periphrasis. CIRCUMLOCUTION and periphrasis (the latter being
the more bookish term) denote a roundabout or indirect way of saying a thing; as, Somehow I
cant relish that word hockey. Cant you supply it by a circumlocution? ( Lamb); He was one
of those anomalous practitioners in lower departments of the law who... on prudential reasons...
deny themselves all indulgence of the luxury of too delicate a conscience (a periphrasis which
might be abridge considerably) ( De Quincey).
personification Act of personifying, or that which personifies; specifically: a. Attribution of
personal form, character, etc.; representation of a thing or abstraction as a person or by the human
form; especially, Rhetoric representation of an inanimate object or abstract idea as a personality or
as endowed with personal attributes; prosopopoedia (See PROSOPOPOEDIA); also, an instance
of this (the floods clap their hands; confusion heard his voice. ( John Milton)). b. A divinity or
imaginary being thought of as representing a thing or abstraction; as, Aeolus is the personification
of wind. c. Embodiment; incarnation; as, to be the personification of pride. d. A dramatic or
literary representation of a character.
pleonasm [Late Latin pleonasmus, from Greek pleonasmos, from pleonazein to be more than
enough, to abound, from pleon, neuter of pleon, pleion more, comparative of polys much.
See FULL; cf. POLY-, PLUS.] 1. Grammar and Rhetoric Redundancy or fullness of language in
speaking or writing; the use of more words than are necessary to express the bare idea (I saw it
with my own eyes; the eye, too, it looks out); also, a case of this, or the redundant or unnecessary
word or expression. 2. Redundancy; a redundant thing. Synonymy: Redundancy, tautology,
pleonasm, verbosity, verbiage, prolixity, diffuseness, circumlocution, periphrasis. Pleonasm
(which may sometimes be a means of proper emphasis) denotes the use of words whose omission
would leave ones meaning intact; as: It is a pleonasam, a figure usual in Scripture, by a
multiplicity of expressions to signify one notable thing ( Robert South (1634-1716)).
ploce [Latin, from Greek ploke complication.] Rhetoric Emphatic repetition of a word, with
pregnant reference to its special significance (His wifes a wife indeed).
polyptoton plural polyptota [Late Latin, from Greek polyptotos having many cases, being in
many cases, from poly many, much, multiple and ptotos falling, akin to Greek ptosis case
and piptein to fall. Cf. DIPTOTE, SYMPTOM.] Rhetoric Repetition of a word in different
cases and inflections (My own hearts heart, and ownest own, farewell. Tennyson).
polysyndeton [New Latin, from Greek poly many, much, multiple and syndetos bound
together.] Rhetoric Repetition of conjunctions in close succession, as of one connecting
coordinates (we have ships and men and money and stores); opposed to asyndeton. See
ASYNDETON, SYNDETIC.
preterition [Late Latin praeteritio; cf. French prtrition.] 3. Rhetoric Paraleipsis; a passing over
with brief mention so as to emphasize the suggestiveness of what is omitted (I confine to this page
the volume of his treacheries and debaucheries). See PARALEIPSIS.
prolepsis plural prolepses [Latin, from Greek prolepsis, from prolambanein to take beforehand,
from pro before and lambanein to take.] Anticipation; specifically: a. Rhetoric A figure by
which objections are anticipated in order to weaken their force. b. Grammar The applying of an
adjective to a noun in anticipation, or to denote the result, of the action of the verb (Ere humane
statute purged the gentle weal).
prolixity [French prolixit, from Latin prolaxitas, akin to Latin prolixus extended.] 1. Quality or
state of being prolix, or unduly protracted in duration; specifically, a stylistic quality resulting
from verboseness, diffuseness, and confusing or tedious copiousness of detail. Synonymy:
Redundancy, tautology, pleonasm, verbosity, verbiage, prolixity, diffuseness, circumlocution,
periphrasis. Prolixity implies excessive and wearisome attention to trivial particulars.
prosopopoedia [Latin, from Greek prosopopoiia from prosopon a face, a person and poiein
to make.] Rhetoric Originally, representation of an absent person as speaking, or of a deceased
person as alive and present; later, personification.
repetition [French rptition, from Latin repetitio, akin to Latin repetere, from re- again and
petere to fall upon, to attack, to seek. Cf. PETITION.] 8. Rhetoric Reiteration; also,
repeating of the same word.
rhetoric [Middle English retorike, rethorike, from Old French rhetorique, from Latin rhetorica,
from Greek rhetorike (understood techne), from rhetorikos rhetorical, oratorical, from rhetor
orator. See WORD.] 1. The art of expressive speech or of discourse, especially of literary
composition. Specifically: a. Originally, as cultivated by the Greeks, the study of the principles
and technical resources of oratory, including both composition and delivery. Its development by
the sophists and other political and professional orators made it regarded chiefly as the art of
persuasion. b. In schools and colleges, the study of principles and rules of composition
formulated by ancient critics, as Aristotle, Quintilian, and interpreted by classical scholars, for the
application to discourse in the vernacular. c. Now, especially, the art of writing well in prose, as
distinguished from versification and elocution. 2. Hence: a. Skillful or artistic use of speech; skill
in the effective use of speech. b. Artificial elegance of language, or declamation without
conviction or earnest feeling. 3. Persuasive or moving power; that which allures. 4. A treatise or
work on rhetoric.
rhetorical question: A question not intended to elicit an answer, but inserted for rhetorical effect.
(Who does not love his country?)
simile [Latin, neuter of similis like, similar.] Rhetoric A figure of speech by which one thing,
action, or relation is likened or explicitly compared in one or more aspects, often with as or like,
to something of different kind or quality; an imaginative comparison (Errors, like straws, upon the
surface flow; Reason is to faith what the eye to the telescope). See TROPE. Synonymy: See
COMPARISON. A simile is an imaginative comparison between objects which are essentially
unlike, except in certain aspects; as, I have compared one with the other, though very unlike, like
all similes ( Byron); As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country (
Proverbs 25:25); ponderous syllables, like sullen waves in the half-glutted hollows of reef rocks
( Keats); The feeling of unhappiness... covered him as a water covers a log ( Kipling).
similitude [Old French, from Latin similitudo, from similis similar.] 2. That which likens one
thing to another; fanciful or imaginative comparison. Specifically: a. A simile. b. A parable. c.
An allegory.
spoonerism [After Reverend William A. Spooner (1844-1930), warden of New College, Oxford,
England.] An accidental transposition of sounds, usually the initial sounds, of two or more words;
as in a blushing crow for a crushing blow.
strange and twisted: The juxtaposition of two declarations that, while isolated, make sense as
either truth or error, but when combined are absurd; e.g., Are you Beckys mother? Yes, I
am. Have you been all her life?
syllepsis plural syllepses [Latin, from Greek syllepsis a taking together, from syllambainein to
take together, from syn with and lambainein to take. Cf. LEMMA.] 1. Grammar The use of
a word (as an adjective or verb) to modify or govern syntactically two (sometimes more) words,
with only one of which it formally agrees in gender, number, etc. (e.g., Latin rex et regina beati.)
Cf. ZEUGMA. 2. Rhetoric Use of a word in the same grammatical relation to two adjacent
words in the context, one metaphorical and the other literal in sense (their taunts, more cutting
than knives).
symploce [Late Latin, from Greek symploke an interweaving, from symplekein to twine
together, from syn with and plekein to twine.] Rhetoric The repetition of a word or phrase at
the beginning and another at the end of successive clauses, a figure combining anaphora
(repetition of a word or words at the beginning of two or more successive clauses) and epistrophe
(termination of successive clauses or sentences with the same expression); as in, Justice came
down from heaven to view the earth; justice returned to heaven and left the earth.
syndetic adjective [Greek syndetikos, from syndein to bind together, from syn with and dein
to bind. Cf. ASYNDETIC.] Connecting; connective; interconnected; also, indicated by a
conjunctive; as, syndetic words or connection.
synecdoche [Latin synecdoche, from Greek synekdoche, from synekdechesthai to receive jointly,
from syn with and ekdechesthai to receive, from ek out and dechesthai to receive.]
Rhetoric A figure of speech which a part is put for the whole (fifty sail for fifty ships), the whole
for a part (the smiling year for spring), the species for the genus (cutthroat for assassin), the
genus for the species (a creature for a man), the name of the material for the thing made, etc. See
TROPE.
tautology [Late Latin tautologia, from Greek tautologia.] 1. Rhetoric Repetition of the same
words or use of synonymous words in close succession; also, an instance of this. 2. Repetition of
a statement, of acts, experiences, etc., especially when superfluous. Synonymy: Redundancy,
tautology, pleonasm, verbosity, verbiage, prolixity, diffuseness, circumlocution, periphrasis.
Tautology is needless or useless repetition of the same idea in different words.
trope [French or Latin; French trope, from Latin tropus, from Greek tropos a turning, turn;
akin to Greek trope a turn, trepein to turn, Sanskrit trapate he is ashamed, he turns away,
and probably to Latin turpis foul, base. Cf. TROPHY, TROPIC, TURPITUDE.] 5. Rhetoric
The use of a word or expression in a different sense from that which properly belongs to it, for
giving life or emphasis to an idea; also, an instance of such use; a figure of speech. Tropes are
chiefly four kinds: metaphor, metonymy, synecdoche, and irony.
Wellerism [from Sam Weller, the witty servant of Mr. Pickwick in the story Pickwick Papers
(1836-1837) by Charles Dickens (1812-1870), English novelist.] An expression of comparison
comprising a usually well-known quotation followed by a facetious sequel (as Every one to his
own taste, said the old woman as she kissed the cow).
(The preceding definition was found at the Web site below:)
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=Wellerism
zeugma [Latin, from Greek zeugma, from zeugnynai to yolk, to join. See YOLK.] Grammar
and Rhetoric The use of a word (as an adjective or verb) to modify or govern two (sometimes
more) words, with only one of which it appropriately makes sense (e.g., terrified by threats or
corrupted by flattery, from Latin minus aut blandimentis corrupta). Cf. SYLLEPSIS.
Unless otherwise indicated, all definitions are from Websters New International Dictionary of the
English Language Second Edition, Unabridged, with Reference History, by William Allan
Neilson, Ph.D., LL.D., L.H.D., Litt.D., et al., Springfield, Massachusetts: G. & C. Merriam
Company, Publishers, 1934, 1935. 3,210 pages.