Eutrepismus (eu-tre-pis’-mus): Numbering and ordering the parts under consideration. A figure of division, and of ordering.
Talk about rhetoric often attempts to denigrate rhetoric. This is deeply ironic. That is, talk about rhetoric that advances a judgment of rhetoric is itself a rhetorical act! For example, we’ve all probably heard these two put-downs (or variations): (1) Stop the rhetoric and get to the reality; and (2) That’s just a lot of rhetoric.
Let’s take a closer look at the first put-down . . .
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Post your own eutrepismus on the “Comments” page!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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