Tag Archives: elocutio

Comprobatio

Posted on April 7, 2011 | Leave a comment

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!

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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Procatalepsis

Posted on March 29, 2011 | Leave a comment

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 . . .

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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Eucharistia

Posted on March 29, 2011 | Leave a comment

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.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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Enantiosis

Posted on February 13, 2011 | Leave a comment

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.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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Merismus

Posted on February 7, 2011 | Leave a comment

Merismus (mer-is’-mus): The dividing of a whole into its parts.

This plan has two key parts: its costs and its benefits. First, let’s take a look at its costs.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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Simile

Posted on January 14, 2011 | Leave a comment

Simile (si’-mi-lee): An explicit comparison, often (but not necessarily) employing “like” or “as.”

Truth is like an endless tube of toothpaste–the more you squeeze it, the more you get out of it.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Comparatio

Posted on January 9, 2011 | Leave a comment

Comparatio (com-pa-ra’-ti-o): A general term for a comparison, either as a figure of speech or as an argument. More specific terms are generally employed, such as metaphor, simile, allegory, etc.

Your bedroom looks like a cross between a Salvation Army collection bin and a Dunkin’ Donuts dumpster. Please clean it up before you go to the movies tonight.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Prolepsis

Posted on December 6, 2010 | Leave a comment

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 say we don’t have the competence or depth of commitment to make this plan succeed. Well, we say that we’ve never yet undertaken a project that we didn’t have the brains to carry through to successful completion. We’re not in the business of proposing to do things that we’re unable to do!  As far as commitment is concerned–we’ve been at this for the past 5 years, forging ahead and making good things happen for this organization.  Given our steady 5-year track record, we don’t think it’s too hard to believe we’re dedicated to the cause and that our resolve is unwavering. Bottom line: same old reservations, same old show them that they’re wrong!

2. The die is cast. There’s no turning back. Tomorrow is tomorrow, but today might as well be tomorrow. It’s all over.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.

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Consonance

Posted on November 20, 2010 | Leave a comment

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.

The Dead Head said, “Bed plus bad equals bead. Wow, like that’s consonance man.”

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Adianoeta

Posted on November 16, 2010 | Leave a comment

Adianoeta: An expression that, in addition to an obvious meaning, carries a second, subtle meaning (often at variance with the ostensible meaning).

During and after my angioplasty she touched my heart in so many ways! I never thought I’d fall in love with a surgeon!

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Syllepsis

Posted on October 31, 2010 | Leave a comment

Syllepsis (sil-lep’-sis): When a single word that governs or modifies two or more others must be understood differently with respect to each of those words. A combination of grammatical parallelism and semantic incongruity, often with a witty or comical effect. Not to be confused with zeugma: [a general term describing when one part of speech {most often the main verb, but sometimes a noun} governs two or more other parts of a sentence {often in a series}].

You opened my heart, my front door, and my wallet–now it’s time to open my eyes and see you for what you really are: a teabag filled with sawdust.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.

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Congeries

Posted on September 29, 2010 | Leave a comment

Congeries (con’-ger-eez): Piling up words of differing meaning but for a similar emotional effect [(akin to climax)].

Your proposal is unrealistic, dangerous, insulting, immoral, and muddled.  In short, it’s ready for the shredder.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.

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Alleotheta

Posted on September 23, 2010 | Leave a comment

Alleotheta (al-le-o-the’-ta): Substitution of one case, gender, mood, number, tense, or person for another. Synonymous with enallage. [Some rhetoricians claim that alleotheta is a] general category that includes antiptosis [(a type of enallage in which one grammatical case is substituted for another)] and all forms of enallage [(the substitution of grammatically different but semantically equivalent constructions)].

Tomorrow you are leaving. Tomorrow, you are gone.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.

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Conduplicatio

Posted on September 22, 2010 | Leave a comment

Conduplicatio (con-du-pli-ca’-ti-o): The repetition of a word or words. A general term for repetition sometimes carrying the more specific meaning of repetition of words in adjacent phrases or clauses. Sometimes used to name either ploce or epizeuxis.

If one knows the truth, one does not have to like the truth. What’s the difference between liking the truth and knowing the truth?  Maybe it’s the difference between freedom and necessity–to be sure one may love a lie (and lying too) & that’s the truth!

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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Epiplexis

Posted on September 14, 2010 | Leave a comment

Epiplexis (e-pi-plex’-is): Asking questions in order to chide, to express grief, or to inveigh. A kind of rhetorical question [–the speaker does not expect an answer].

Yes, it was an accident, but I was driving. I was behind the wheel. Why did we have to go to the store right then? An hour later & she’d still be alive. How am I going to live with this? Can I ever forgive myself? Can I ever forget? How do I turn off the regret and remorse and get on with my life?

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.

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Epizeuxis

Posted on September 3, 2010 | Leave a comment

Epizeuxis (e-pi-zook’-sis): Repetition of words with no others between, for vehemence or emphasis.

Spend, spend, spend! Bills, bills, bills! We’re broke, but we had a lot of fun getting here! Let’s have a garage sale and buy some lotto tickets with the money we make!

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Dendographia

Posted on August 31, 2010 | 1 comment

Dendographia (den-do-graf’-i-a): Creating an illusion of reality through vivid description of a tree.

The hillside was clearcut, except for one wounded fir tree wobbling in the wind; slowly dying in the bleak twisted mess that used to be a forest.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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Apodioxis

Posted on August 28, 2010 | Leave a comment

Apodioxis (ap-o-di-ox’-is): Rejecting of someone or something (such as the adversary’s argument) as being impertinent, needless, absurd, false, or wicked.

What? We need another 40″ TV? Where are we going to put it? In the garage? We already have four TVs. We do not need another one! Forget about it.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

 

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Asteismus

Posted on August 26, 2010 | Leave a comment

Asteismus (as-te-is’-mus): Polite or genteel mockery. More specifically, a figure of reply in which the answerer catches a certain word and throws it back to the first speaker with an unexpected twist. Less frequently, a witty use of allegory or comparison, such as when a literal and an allegorical meaning are both implied.

Marlin: When are you going to give me a break?

Pat: When you break out of your slump and give me something to shout out about! You can do it!

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

 

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Sarcasmus

Posted on August 24, 2010 | Leave a comment

Sarcasmus (sar-kaz-mus): Use of mockery, verbal taunts, or bitter irony.

Hey, New York–don’t let the bedbugs bite!

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Onomatopoeia

Posted on August 9, 2010 | Leave a comment

Onomatopoeia (on-o-mat-o-pee’-a): Using or inventing a word whose sound imitates that which it names (the union of phonetics and semantics).

I was nearly hypnotized by the windshield wipers’ scrooch-whap, scrooch-whap, scrooch-whap.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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Apocarteresis

Posted on July 29, 2010 | Leave a comment

Apocarteresis (a-po-car-ter’-e-sis): Casting of all hope away from one thing and placing it on another source altogether.

Ok, so much for the stock market–it’s killing me. I’m cutting my losses once and for all. I’m investing every dollar I’ve got left in–yup–you guessed it: gold! I’m buying shiny-yellow-never-let-you-down gold!

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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Catacosmesis

Posted on July 5, 2010 | Leave a comment

Catacosmesis (kat-a-kos-mees’-is): Ordering words from greatest to least in dignity, or in correct order of time.

From start to finish that was the best soccer match I have ever seen!

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Tmesis

Posted on June 28, 2010 | Leave a comment

Tmesis (tmee’-sis): Interjecting a word or phrase between parts of a compound word or between syllables of a word.

Today we start Kagan’s Senate confir-nasty-mation hearings–a showcase for partisan politics.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Diaskeue

Posted on June 27, 2010 | Leave a comment

Diaskeue (di-as-keu’-ee): Graphic peristasis (description of circumstances) intended to arouse the emotions.

I had just climbed into bed after a long flight from Taiwan to New York. It was about 10:00 a.m.  I was exhausted. I heard a loud thud on my bedroom window–like someone had thrown a soft object at it with a lot of force. I pulled up the blinds and saw a small hole in the screen with a greasy stain smeared on the glass behind it. Lying dead on the grass was a beautiful little sparrow hawk–perfectly still–its neck twisted too far to the side–broken by its collision with the window.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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