Abecedarian (a-be-ce-da’-ri-an): An acrostic whose letters do not spell a word but follow the order (more or less) of the alphabet.
A big car drove executives from gilded hotels into jumbled kinky lanes.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Aetiologia (ae-ti-o-log’-i-a): A figure of reasoning by which one attributes a cause for a statement or claim made, often as a simple relative clause of explanation.
I do not support that candidate, for he misspeaks too much!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Aposiopesis (a-pos-i-o-pee’-sis): Breaking off suddenly in the middle of speaking, usually to portray being overcome with emotion.
10 years from now:
I am appalled that the media would bring up my fifth wife’s allegation that I routinely beat our toy poodle Scruffy with a garden hose! Little Scruffy–poor little guy. He was my best . . . my. . . my best . . . friend. Peachy hated Scruffy almost as much as she hates me!
Scruffy’s gone forever but her lies live on!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Merismus (mer-is’-mus): The dividing of a whole into its parts.
The most advantageous plan has six key ingredients: money, more money, lots more money, money, money, money. Get it? It’s going to take money–a whole lot of money to do it right.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in merismus
Tagged elocutio, figures of speech, merismus, rhetoric, style, The Daily Trope
Simile (si’-mi-lee): An explicit comparison, often (but not necessarily) employing “like” or “as.”
That candidate’s position on unemployment is like a parking lot out in the middle of the desert: empty and useless.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in simile
Tagged elocutio, figures of speech, public speaking, rhetoric, simile, style
Prolepsis (pro-lep’-sis): (1) A synonym for procatalepsis [refuting anticipated objections]; (2) speaking of something future as though already done or existing. A figure of anticipation.
1. They’re going to keep telling you that my economic policies have failed. I’m going to keep telling you that they have failed to adopt my economic policies. How can something that’s never been tried fail?
2. What’s done is done. We are dead, but we will not be forgotten. Onward!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.
Posted in prolepsis
Tagged elocutio, figures of speech, procatalepsis, prolepsis, public speaking, rhetoric, style
Consonance: The repetition of consonants in words stressed in the same place (but whose vowels differ). Also, a kind of inverted alliteration, in which final consonants, rather than initial or medial ones, repeat in nearby words. Consonance is more properly a term associated with modern poetics than with historical rhetorical terminology.
I built my deck. I used my truck. I did the work. I saved some dough.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in consonance
Tagged alliteration, consonance, elocutio, figures of speech, rhetoric, style
Apocarteresis (a-po-car-ter’-e-sis): Casting of all hope away from one thing and placing it on another source altogether.
I thought hard work, intelligence, and honesty counted the most around here! I work hard. I’m smart. I’m honest, and I’m still the lowest paid employee! I can’t stop being smart, but maybe if I stop working so hard and cheat a little things will go better for me. Whoops–that’s not very smart. I think I’ll just quit and go to work where intelligence, hard work, and honesty are actually appreciated.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in apocarteresis
Tagged apocarteresis, elocutio, figures of speech, rhetoric, style
Antisagoge (an-tis-a-go’-gee): 1. Making a concession before making one’s point (=paromologia); 2. Using a hypothetical situation or a precept to illustrate antithetical alternative consequences, typically promises of reward and punishment.
1. There’s no doubt that we’re running out of time, but time is of the essence: we’ll be more likely to get a better deal if we don’t make any concessions until the last possible minute. I think we have at least another two weeks of no, no, no.
2. You want to go to France to visit your friends. Where’s the money coming from? Imagine this: you ask your parents for the money & they refuse to give you a dime: no trip to France. Or, imagine this: you get a part-time job, make some money, and ask your parents to pay for part of your trip: fun trip to France. Which will it be: No work, no France? Or, part-time job, bon voyage?
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Catacosmesis (kat-a-kos-mees’-is): Ordering words from greatest to least in dignity, or in correct order of time.
Years of hard work, months of anguish, days and days and days filled with hope and fear and loss and gain, and today, we stand at the threshold of a promise fulfilled. Tomorrow, we go home.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Thaumasmus (thau-mas’-mus): To marvel at something rather than to state it in a matter of fact way.
Wow! That pile of dirty dishes has to be a world record!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Paromologia (par-o-mo-lo’-gi-a): Conceding an argument, either jestingly and contemptuously, or to prove a more important point. A synonym for concessio.
You are right about the costs, but I’m absolutely right about the benefits–they far outweigh the costs.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Hendiadys (hen-di’-a-dis): Expressing a single idea by two nouns [joined by a conjunction] instead of a noun and its qualifier. A method of amplification that adds force. Hendiadys can be considered a specific application of anthimeria, the more general term indicating the substitution of one part of speech for another. Hendiadys [is realted to polysyndeton–it] increases the use of conjunctions in a sentence in the very act of transforming an adjective-noun combination into two nouns. [In addition,] making an adjective a noun changes it from a subordinate to an ordinate or parallel position, inviting one to consider the nouns as related but distinct. Like hendiadys, paradiastole divides out and distinguishes terms normally considered completely consistent with one another.
Noise on dust and smell! The thousands; the wildebeest are on the move.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.
Chronographia (chro-no-graph’-i-a): Vivid representation of a certain historical or recurring time (such as a season) to create an illusion of reality. A kind of enargia: [the] generic name for a group of figures aiming at vivid, lively description.
The air is warming–winding through the sunlight on a hardly breathing breeze. The fresh green field is spangled with a thousand (or more) dandelions. In the dim damp woods Jack is standing in his pulpit among droopy trillium and fiddle headed ferns. There’s a fleck of purple violets growing by the brook! I don’t care what the calendar says–today is spring! Just breathe the air and have a look!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.
Posted in chronographia
Tagged chronographia, elocutio, enargia, figures of speech, rhetoric
Anthypophora (an’-thi-po’-phor-a): A figure of reasoning in which one asks and then immediately answers one’s own questions (or raises and then settles imaginary objections). Reasoning aloud. Anthypophora sometimes takes the form of asking the audience or one’s adversary what can be said on a matter, and thus can involve both anacoenosis and apostrophe.
We’re hungry. Where should we eat? Rosie’s? Pricewhakers? Barnacle Bob’s? Barnacle Bob’s! That’s it! Barnacle Bob’s! We haven’t had fish in months! It’s right down the street. It’s cheap. What are we waiting for? Let’s go!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in anthypophora
Tagged anacoenosis, anthypophora, apostrophe, elocutio, figures of speech, rhetoric
Tmesis (tmee’-sis): Interjecting a word or phrase between parts of a compound word or between syllables of a word.
The music was fan-trance-tastic.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Diaskeue (di-as-keu’-ee): Graphic peristasis (description of circumstances) intended to arouse the emotions.
Total destruction. No warning. Houses torn to pieces. Cars turned upside down. Furniture scattered everywhere. So many people torn by grief. How will they ever recover? What a tragedy.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Pysma (pys’-ma): The asking of multiple questions successively (which would together require a complex reply). A rhetorical use of the question.
How did we get into this mess? Will it ever end? Who is responsible? What are we going to do? Could we ever have foreseen this catastrophe?
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Accismus (ak-iz’-mus): A feigned refusal of that which is earnestly desired.
I’ve wanted one of those all of my life! It’s the most beautiful one I’ve ever seen! Put it away. Take it back. Really, I’m not worth it.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Anacoluthon (an-a-co-lu’-thon): A grammatical interruption or lack of implied sequence within a sentence. That is, beginning a sentence in a way that implies a certain logical resolution, but concluding it differently than the grammar leads one to expect. Anacoluthon can be either a grammatical fault or a stylistic virtue, depending on its use. In either case, it is an interruption or a verbal lack of symmetry. Anacoluthon is characteristic of spoken language or interior thought, and thus suggests those domains when it occurs in writing.
What a beautiful spring day–I’m going shopping!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Comprobatio (com-pro-ba’-ti-o): Approving and commending a virtue, especially in the hearers.
We took them to the brink, they looked over the edge, they backed up a few steps, and they agreed to nearly every budget cut we proposed!
Well done my fellow fiscal conservatives!
Saving money is a good thing, and you helped us save you a bundle!
But, let me make this perfectly clear: We’re not done yet! Next, we take out Obama-care, then, we dismantle Medicare, and after that, we eliminate Social Security!
Now, my fellow Americans, I’m going back to my tanning bed, relax, smoke a cigarette, and quietly gloat.
Thank you for your support and encouragement. Victory is ours!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Procatalepsis (pro-cat-a-lep’-sis): Refuting anticipated objections.
You will say it is too expensive. They will say it is impractical. Everybody will say it is unjust. I say it is cheap, easy, and fair. Now, I’m going to tell you why. First . . .
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in procatalepsis
Tagged elocutio, figures of speech, procatalepsis, public speaking, rhetoric
Eucharistia (eu-cha-ris’-ti-a): Giving thanks for a benefit received, sometimes adding one’s inability to repay.
Thank you for saving my dog. There is nothing I can ever do that will be enough to repay your courage and kindness.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Enantiosis (e-nan-ti-o’-sis): Using opposing or contrary descriptions together, typically in a somewhat paradoxical manner.
Love is a burden that carries you.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in enantiosis
Tagged elocutio, enantiosis, figures of speech, paradox, rhetoric, trope
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