Aphorismus ( a-phor-is’-mus): Calling into question the proper use of a word.
I’m not for sale at Toys “R” Us, and certainly, I am not a plaything! Clearly, ‘Etch-A-Sketch’ is not the proper word to use to describe me. Rather, I think ‘Flip-Flopper’ is much more accurate–like a pair of those comfortable rubber sandals that make a delightful sound when you walk around in them.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in aphorismus
Tagged aphorismus, elocutio, example, figures of speech, rhetoric
Enallage (e-nal’-la-ge): The substitution of grammatically different but semantically equivalent constructions.
Government service is not a vocation–it’s an executive management position. It’s a job! The President is the CEO of the United States of America.
I want to be CEO of the United States of America! CEO of the United States of America is what I want to be!
I’ve been there! I’ve made lots of money! Economic virtues are political virtues. Make me your Capitalist-in-Chief!
Hire me! Vote for me! Invest in me! America’s stock will climb!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in enallage
Tagged elocutio, enallage, example, figures of speech, public speaking, rhetoric
Epistrophe (e-pis’-tro-fee): Ending a series of lines, phrases, clauses, or sentences with the same word or words.
Stand up for change. Speak out for change. Spark a movement for change. And, for a change, the world may be a better place!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in epistrophe
Tagged elocutio, epistrophe, example, figures of speech, rhetoric
Cataplexis (kat-a-pleex’-is): Threatening or prophesying payback for ill doing.
What you’ve done to these innocent people today will haunt you tonight. There is no one to turn to, no place to run, no place to hide. The red of the rising sun will be eclipsed by your shimmering blood as it soaks the land of our birth and justly heralds your slow and painful death!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in cataplexis
Tagged cataplexis, elocutio, example, figures of speech, rhetoric
Adynaton (a-dyn’-a-ton): A declaration of impossibility, usually in terms of an exaggerated comparison. Sometimes, the expression of the impossibility of expression.
Sure, he’s going to be elected President of the United States just like that bag of kitty litter is going to feed the hungry.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in adynaton
Tagged adynaton, elocutio, example, figures of speech, kitty litter, politics
Deesis (de’-e-sis): An adjuration (solemn oath) or calling to witness; or, the vehement expression of desire put in terms of “for someone’s sake” or “for God’s sake.”
If elected President, I swear in the name of everything I hold near and dear that I will lower taxes, build a fence around Arizona, and work tirelessly to Michigan-size every tree in the United States of America with chainsaws made in the USA, fueled by Alaska, Texas, Louisiana, and New Jersey, and operated by non-union workers for minimum wage!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Epanorthosis (ep-an-or-tho’-sis): Amending a first thought by altering it to make it stronger or more vehement.
There’s something about his stiff affect that makes me wonder about his sincerity. No, wait a minute. On second thought, there’s actually something about everything he does and says that makes him look and sound like a complete liar! I don’t trust him. Neither should you.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in epanorthosis
Tagged elocutio, epanorthosis, example, figures of speech, rhetoric
Antanagoge (an’-ta-na’-go-gee): Putting a positive spin on something that is nevertheless acknowledged to be negative or difficult.
As we continue to push for change against the rock-solid Republican Wall of thoughtless opposition, we will hurt and we will be hurt, but at the same time, by pushing, we will build up and strengthen our resolve, and we will push some more, and we will become stronger, and we will start to move that Republican Wall off its cynical foundation, and come November that Republican Wall will come tumbling down.
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).
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)
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