Epistrophe (e-pis’-tro-fee): Ending a series of lines, phrases, clauses, or sentences with the same word or words.
I’ve have contacted all the witnesses relevant to the case. You’ve gathered all the documents relevant to the case. We’ve discussed every possible motive relevant to the case. We still have a long way to go, but I think we’re making progress.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Antanaclasis (an’-ta-na-cla’-sis): The repetition of a word or phrase whose meaning changes in the second instance.
The government certainly has the right to tax us, but let’s make sure the taxes are right.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Climax (cli’-max): Generally, the arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in an order of increasing importance, often in parallel structure.
We went from caring to despairing, to repairing, to sharing the best days (and nights) of our lives!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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 beautiful cow danced elegantly for her elementary school’s spring play–it was my 8-year-old daughter rocking out in the cow costume we made.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Litotes (li-to’-tees): Deliberate understatement, especially when expressing a thought by denying its opposite. The Ad Herennium author suggests litotes as a means of expressing modesty (downplaying one’s accomplishments) in order to gain the audience’s favor (establishing ethos).
When I saved the company from financial disaster, I was only doing my job.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Anaphora (an-aph’-o-ra): Repetition of the same word or group of words at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences, or lines.
Health care reform was our hope. Health care reform is now the law. It’s what we fought for, and yet, it’s still a work in progress. Let’s keep making progress! Let’s finish the job! Let’s make it universal!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Scesis Onomaton (ske’-sis o-no’-ma-ton): 1. A sentence constructed only of nouns and adjectives (typically in a regular pattern). 2. A series of successive, synonymous expressions.
1. Fast cars, big boats, tricked-out trucks, and private planes!
2. We’ve reached our final destination. This is where we were headed. We’re finally here!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in scesis onomaton
Tagged elocutio, figures of speech, rhetoric, scesis onomaton
Period: The periodic sentence, characterized by the suspension of the completion of sense until its end. This has been more possible and favored in Greek and Latin, languages already favoring the end position for the verb, but has been approximated in uninflected languages such as English. [This figure may also engender surprise or suspense–consequences of what Kenneth Burke views as ‘appeals’ of information.]
Next month, because we have frequent yelling matches, get cited every few months for disturbing the peace, have numerous infidelities, and both of us recently obtained prescriptions for medical marijuana we will appear on the Jerry Springer Show!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text inserted by Gorgias.
Metonymy (me-ton’-y-my): Reference to something or someone by naming one of its attributes. [This may include effects or any of the four Aristotelian causes {efficient/maker/inventor, material, formal/shape, final/purpose}.]
I filled my tin with nightcrawlers and headed off for a day by the water.
Definition courtesy of “Sliva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.
Repotia (re-po’-ti-a): 1. The repetition of a phrase with slight differences in style, diction, tone, etc. 2. A discourse celebrating a wedding feast.
1. A. Every time you smile at me I feel the warmth of your love touching my soul.
1. B. Every time you smile at me I feel the pulse of your love pounding in my chest.
2. Now you are married. But, your course through life together to this point can’t and won’t be forgotten: How you first met. How you formed a faith together in the future of your dream: to love, to grow, to share with us, and to be bound by the promises you made here today. Your vows have made you whole and your vows have made you free. They teach us all how good it is to be your witness: to testify to the power of love as we embrace your hope and promise to do everything we can, along with you, to make your hope and love your life’s destiny.
So, here’s to you our friends: To your love! To your marriage! May the spirit of today visit you every day all the days of your life!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Tasis (ta’-sis): Sustaining the pronunciation of a word or phrase because of its pleasant sound. A figure apparent in delivery.
Together, to gather for concord’s sake–true to our promise in concord’s wake–never far, always near–concord’s spirit conquered fear, and concord’s hope brought us here: warmed by the knowledge that we’re not alone, sheltered by this place that we call home.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Dehortatio (de-hor-ta’-ti-o): Dissuasion.
Every day you sit at your kitchen table working at your hobby projects–empty cans with pictures from Star Magazine pasted on them, paperclip key rings, gum wrapper religious icons, and a bunch of other stuff. Maybe you’re having fun, but maybe you could use your spare time to make something better for somebody else. There’s a food pantry right around the corner. There’s a homeless shelter on the other side of town. There’s a literacy program at St. Mary’s. Take your pick. Volunteer your time. Give it to somebody who needs it. Get up. Go out. Do good.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Distinctio (dis-tinc’-ti-o): Eliminating ambiguity surrounding a word by explicitly specifying each of its distinct meanings.
This “truth” is not self evident, scientific, or even factual. This “truth” resonates with hope as a quality of faith enabling one to envision, plan, posit, and actualize a better future–it is a compelling representation of a beloved possibility.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Adynaton (a-dyn’-a-ton): A declaration of impossibility, usually in terms of an exaggerated comparison. Sometimes, the expression of the impossibility of expression.
You have as much of a chance of winning the lottery as a chicken does of climbing Mt. Everest!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Abating: English term for anesis: adding a concluding sentence that diminishes the effect of what has been said previously. The opposite of epitasis (the addition of a concluding sentence that merely emphasizes what has already been stated. A kind of amplification).
Your new house is beautiful! Too bad it’s right next to the freeway.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Posted in abating
Tagged abating, anesis, elocutio, epitasis, example, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, The Daily Trope, trope
Anacoloutha (an-a-co’-lu-tha): Substituting one word with another whose meaning is very close to the original, but in a non-reciprocal fashion; that is, one could not use the first, original word as a substitute for the second. This is the opposite of acoloutha.
Rising sun rips the night; jagged day, jags of light.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in anacoloutha
Tagged acoloutha, anacolutha, elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, style, The Daily Trope
Assonance (ass’-o-nance): Repetition of similar vowel sounds, preceded and followed by different consonants, in the stressed syllables of adjacent words.
The new parking restrictions are a cue to everyone who knows how crowded the village green can be on Saturday mornings in summer and fall: a two-block walk from a side street will keep people away. Who wants to lug a couple of turnips, twelve ears of corn, and a torn bag of tomatoes two blocks back to their car? Not me. Can’t you see how this will hurt the local produce farmers?
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in assonance
Tagged assonance, elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
Symploce (sim’-plo-kee): The combination of anaphora and epistrophe: beginning a series of lines, clauses, or sentences with the same word or phrase while simultaneously repeating a different word or phrase at the end of each element in this series.
Today we celebrate the hope that is honored and fulfilled by our being gathered here. Today is also a compelling reminder of what is not here.
The future.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in symploce
Tagged anaphora, elocutio, epistrophe, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, symploce, The Daily Trope
Epitasis (e-pit’-a-sis): The addition of a concluding sentence that merely emphasizes what has already been stated. A kind of amplification. Opposite of anesis.
I just got back to the U.S.A. Home at last!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in epitasis
Tagged anesis, elocutio, epitasis, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
Antanaclasis (an’-ta-na-cla’-sis): The repetition of a word or phrase whose meaning changes in the second instance.
When your yacht leaked, you bailed it out. When your business failed, you bailed out.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in antanaclasis
Tagged antanaclasis, elocutio, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
Hypallage (hy-pal’-la-ge): Shifting the application of words. Mixing the order of which words should correspond with which others. Also, sometimes, a synonym for metonymy (see Quintilian).
Birds do not bark. Dogs do not tweet. Cows do not croak. Frogs do not moo. Stop trying to prove yourself by doing what you can’t do.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in hypallage
Tagged elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, hypallage, metonymy, Quintilian, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
Antirrhesis (an-tir-rhee’-sis): Rejecting reprehensively the opinion or authority of someone.
I reject your point of view–it’s based on the belief that people cannot be trusted to govern themselves. If people cannot be trusted to govern themselves, who is going to govern them? Cows? Caterpillars? Coyotes? Hoot owls? Earthworms? How can we trust a person who claims that people can’t be trusted? Certainly, I don’t trust you–not because you’re a person, but because you’re a fool.
Definition courtesy of Silva Rhetoricae (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in antirrhesis
Tagged antirrhesis, elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, style, The Daily Trope
Acervatio (ak-er-va’-ti-o): Latin term Quintilian employs for both asyndeton (acervatio dissoluta: a loose heap) and polysyndeton (acervatio iuncta: a conjoined heap).
Asyndeton: the omission of conjunctions between clauses, often resulting in a hurried rhythm or vehement effect.
We practice, we play, we win, we lose, we love it! That’s it. That’s our game plan. Let’s go!
Polysydeton: employing many conjunctions between clauses, often slowing the tempo or rhythm.
You told me you were my friend, and you let me believe you were going to help me, and you kept me thinking everything was going to be all right, and then you walked out the door, and you didn’t leave a trace, and all my dreams were shattered; and now you’re asking me to forgive you and welcome you back like nothing happened at all? Get out!
Definitions courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in acervatio
Tagged acervatio, asyndeton, elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, polysyndeton, Quintilian, rhetoric, style, The Daily Trope
Abbaser: [George] Puttenham’s English term for tapinosis. Also equivalent to meiosis: reference to something with a name disproportionately lesser than its nature (a kind of litotes: deliberate understatement, especially when expressing a thought by denying its opposite).
New York–a little town on a little island in a river.
Definitions courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.
Posted in abbaser
Tagged abbaser, elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, litotes, meiosis, rhetoric, style, tapinosis, The Daily Trope
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