Parabola (par-ab’-o-la): The explicit drawing of a parallel between two essentially dissimilar things, especially with a moral or didactic purpose. A parable.
Life is a cardboard box: Sometimes it’s empty, sometimes it’s not. Either way, full and empty don’t mark it as better or worse.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Paragoge (par-a-go’-ge): The addition of a letter or syllable to the end of a word. A kind of metaplasm.
I got so smartarola playing Popper Knock! It’s way too complicated to explain, but there is popping and knocking involved. I say, give it a try-o! Just get yourself a pair of leather gloves and a face shield and you’re almost there. Popper Knock!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Paralipsis (par-a-lip’-sis): Stating and drawing attention to something in the very act of pretending to pass it over (see also cataphasis). A kind of irony.
God knows we’ve talked about universal health care enough. It’s not like we haven’t had this conversation—this conversation about raising taxes on the rich—making a micro-scratch on the surface of their glittering wealth, while freeing billions of dollars to save lives and keep us healthy—our eyes, our insides, our teeth—everything!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Paramythia (pa-ra-mee’-thi-a): An expression of consolation and encouragement.
I’m so sorry your son Jr. is giving drug-fueled speeches on your behalf. It’s like having an overflowing porta-potty on your otherwise gleaming sweet-smelling team. But you’ve been through worse—Stormy Daniels is your benchmark for the bottom, and you got through that with only a scratch. Oh, we can’t forget the impeachments—they didn’t make a dent. Oh yes—and the kids in cages at the border: hardly a ripple. Really, the only thing slowing you down is the truth. Just keep telling lies, the bigger the better, and you’ll be our first Dictator by the end of August. Relax and enjoy the sidelines for a little while. Everything’s going to be ok.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Paraprosdokian: A figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase [or series = anticlimax] is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to reframe the first part. . . . For this reason, it is extremely popular among comedians and satirists. An especially clever paraprosdokian not only changes the meaning of an early phrase, but also plays on the double meaning of a particular word.(1)
I turned Right on the Highway of Life and it was full of potholes.
1. “Paraprosdokian.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 4 Jan 2008, 03:30 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 9 Jan 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraprosdokian>.
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Paregmenon (pa-reg’-men-on): A general term for the repetition of a word or its cognates in a short sentence. Often, but not always, polyptoton.
Trump. Trump. Trump. His name sounds like a flat tire slapping the pavement. And like a flat tire, he’s a pain in the ass. When is he going to go far, far, far, far away? Maybe like Napoleon he should be exiled to an island. Coney Island fits his character. But North Brother Island in New York’s East River might be the right place.
The island operated until 1943 as a “quarantine station for people suffering from infectious diseases like tuberculosis, smallpox, measles, and typhoid fever.” ( https://interactive.wttw.com/urbannature/new-yorks-deserted-island#!/)
I think it is appropriate to view Trump as a vector—as a carrier of immorality and criminal tendencies. Getting him out there alone without social media in the middle of the East River will save a lot of gullible people from being conned and robbed.
Exile! Exile! Exile!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Paroemion (par-mi’-on): Alliteration taken to an extreme where nearly every word in a sentence begins with the same consonant. Sometimes, simply a synonym for alliteration or for homoeoprophoron [a stylistic vice].
I’m digging deep in the dense dirt, displaying determination. Done! Now we plant the little peach tree, hoping it will grow and flourish like the little apple tree we planted years ago. You were a child, and I was pretty old already.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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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.
Yeah, you’re right about something for the first time since I’ve known you! But how trivial does it get? So what if I took the batteries out of your stupid toy? I needed them for my flashlight so I could fix the sink drain. Instead of calling it “stealing” you should think of another way of putting it—how about “took”? I’m not a thief, but you are an idiot. We need a little more trust around here. Ok, I’m sorry I called you an idiot. Maybe I’m an idiot for not asking to borrow the batteries.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Paronomasia (pa-ro-no-ma’-si-a): Using words that sound alike but that differ in meaning (punning).
My porpoise in life is to just squeak bye.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Parrhesia (par-rez’-i-a): Either to speak candidly or to ask forgiveness for so speaking. Sometimes considered a vice.
Her: I’m sorry, but I just have tell you: your husband is gone along with all the money in your joint checking account. He sold your car and his ride mower last night while you were sleeping. He’s headed for Vegas, where—guess what? He’s divorcing you and getting remarried as soon as the divorce goes through.
Wife: That bastard! I knew he’d do something like this some day. How do you know all this?
Her: I’m leaving for Vegas on the 5.30 flight. As your neighbor and friend, I figured I should be the one to tell you what’s going on.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Pathopoeia ( path-o-poy’-a): A general term for speech that moves hearers emotionally, especially as the speaker attempts to elicit an emotional response by way of demonstrating his/her own feelings (exuscitatio). Melanchthon explains that this effect is achieved by making reference to any of a variety of pathetic circumstances: the time, one’s gender, age, location, etc.
He was born in 1946–at the end of WWII. He grew up in the 1950s—he volunteered to take the experimental polio vaccine, he watched Howdy Doody and Rooted for the Brooklyn Dodgers, and played first base in Little League. He barely graduated from high school in 1966. He joined the Army and went to Vietnam. After that, he went to Woodstock. He bought a Triumph Thunderbolt and wandered around America on two wheels. He took a lot of acid, and learned how to do leatherwork, ending up in Monterey, CA, working in a small leather shop overlooking the Bay. One day, he decided to go to college on the GI Bill. He started out at a community college where they had open admissions. He got an Associate’s Degree and applied to the UC system, and was admitted to UC Santa Barbara. He graduated with a Masters and then went on to get a PhD from the University of Washington. He was a professor for many years. After 2 failed marriages, he met his current wife and they have a beautiful daughter. Their lives overflowed with love.
In every direction I look, I see tearful people, people remembering the goodness of this man and feeling the bonds of friendship that tied their lives, but no more. Now, there are memories—ephemeral traces and visions of what no longer exists, but affects us all as if he was seated there among you.
Goodbye my friend—my truest friend. Goodbye forever.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Perclusio (per-clu’-si-o): A threat against someone, or something.
He: If you don’t get off your fat ass and start cooking dinner by the time I count to ten, we’re going to play the abusive husband game again.
He: Where the hell did you get that huge knife? Put it down dumbo. Ow damn—you cut my friggin’ pinkie off. Call 911! I’m bleeding!
He: What do you mean, you hate me and you’re calling the police? If you call the police, I’ll tell them you cut off my pinkie. You’ll be arrested and I’ll be sitting here with stitches and a bandage watching Wheel of Fortune with our neighbor’s wife.
He: What? I NEVER beat you. Prove it. Oh, the video on your phone. So what? How’d you get it on Facebook? Hmmm. Well, I’m screwed. Thanks. I’m outta here. It’s been hell knowing you.
She: Go! I was a normal person when I met you. Now, I hide in the shadows, fearful of your constant wrath. Go! Get out! Go find another victim. Or better yet, die. I’m going to get help and restore my soul.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Periergia (pe-ri-er’-gi-a): Overuse of words or figures of speech. As such, it may simply be considered synonymous with macrologia. However, as Puttenham’s term suggests, periergia may differ from simple superfluity in that the language appears over-labored.
The unchained melody climbed the staircase of my mind, skipping a step every two steps, like a frog in full-hop on the slanted plane. I felt like a rubber boot starring in a 21st century version of Cinderella; a boot that was “gripping” in its performance, as the eiderdown-like like dust blowing in the window made things slippery and threatened me with a fall. I laid on the dirty sticky floor, rather than fall on its splattered remnants of spilled food, alcoholic beverages, and fragments of plastic toys.
Suddenly, I woke up in the bathtub choking on soapy grey water. My tiny tugboat had sunk and the tub’s water was lukewarm like urine.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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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.
We set our lives, inevitably, inconsolably, wickedly, painfully, faithfully by time. Hours and hours, into boredom’s dread. Minute by minute into the throes of anxiety fearful of not “finishing” in time. Seconds pass predictably in countdowns to New Years or birthdays, competitions of all kinds: swimming, racing horses, running, holding one’s breath.
And the seasons pass—timed by their climates’ characteristics: warm, hot, chilly, cold. And to each season measures must be taken to adapt; to fit: with the right clothing (and more). Buried in the seasons broadly understood, like seasoning, is the idea of what is appropriate or fitting: the right time for . . . . This is the Kairos—celebrated and elucidated in Ecclesiastes.
Kairos is the most important time. It bears the weight of the quality of your life’s episodes, for better and for worse. It gives your life meaning. It gives your life purpose. Always know what time it is. Whether Chronos or Kairos, time is time.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text inserted by Gorgias.
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Periphrasis (per-if’-ra-sis): The substitution of a descriptive word or phrase for a proper name (a species of circumlocution); or, conversely, the use of a proper name as a shorthand to stand for qualities associated with it. (Circumlocutions are rhetorically useful as euphemisms, as a method of amplification, or to hint at something without stating it.)
Hey look, it’s The Liar—fooling all of his followers all of the time. His technique is to appear to believe himself, himself. He affects righteous indignation all day every day, floating his lies on it with a raised voice, rolling eyes and wild gestures. The only time he slows down is to compliment Newsmax, because they compliment him and repeat his lies.
Lincoln was the Great Emancipator. Trump is the Great Prevaricator. Both Republicans. Two different trajectories. One directed us to affect charity toward the defeated after a war, the other, directs us to affect malice toward the winners after an election. Trump’s rebuke is a raw display of his sense of entitlement’s delusional inability to deal with democracy—to accept the majority’s voice as a guarantor of the Republic’s future. Prince Donald sees it differently. He believes he has a right (maybe divine) to be President and that that right has been usurped by a “stolen” election. Yes, “stolen” from him by the will of the people.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Personification: Reference to abstractions or inanimate objects as though they had human qualities or abilities. The English term for prosopopeia (pro-so-po-pe’-i-a) or ethopoeia (e-tho-po’-ia): the description and portrayal of a character (natural propensities, manners and affections, etc.).
The onions said nothing, but they made me cry. Maybe they were telling me that silence isn’t golden after all. Or maybe I wasn’t crying. Maybe my eyes were just irritated by the onion as I chopped it into little pieces. My knife said “Go Johnny, mince that little sucker!” Then I thought: There’s violence in the kitchen—the ruthless cutting, peeling, poking, boiling, baking, sautéing, frying, chopping, tossing, pounding. Meat, fish, vegetables, birds, it doesn’t matter. Then I thought: OMG, smoothies! Whirring razor-sharp blades slashing solids into liquids.
There is violence up and down the vegetable food chain. Yanking a happy red tomato off its vine. Digging a snug russet potato up by its roots. Cutting a resting rhubarb leaf away from its mother plant. Ripping young corn cobs from their trembling stalks. Thrashing helpless grain.
But hey, we’ve got to eat.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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Polyptoton (po-lyp-to’-ton): Repeating a word, but in a different form. Using a cognate of a given word in close proximity.
Who condemns the condemner? When the accused accuses, the accusations usually circle around lying or attributions of misinformation denying an alibi. Imagine a society where the accuser judges the accused. Disaster! But that’s exactly what often happens in interpersonal relationships, where the verdict may be “I’m leaving, you dog.” For better and for worse, this is how it goes too often. When there is a lot at stake, Divorce Court is an option.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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Polysyndeton (pol-y-syn’-de-ton): Employing many conjunctions between clauses, often slowing the tempo or rhythm. (Asyndeton is the opposite of polysyndeton: an absence of conjunctions.)
He huffed and he puffed and he fell on the floor, and he looked up at the ceiling and he said “Wow” and he tried to get up and he couldn’t. So his wife put a blanket over him and he fell asleep and he dreamed he was a cannoli orbiting Earth.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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Procatalepsis (pro-cat-a-lep’-sis): Refuting anticipated objections.
I want to go on a rampage. I’ll do a ‘light’ rampage—not much destruction, maybe a little fire and rock throwing. I know you’re thinking I’ll be arrested. Ha! I’ve got one of those Z masks: the joker is wild. I just take off the mask and nobody will know I was wearing it. Pretty smart, huh? Anyway, if anybody recognizes me, I can hide out at our Country Club—posing as a dishwasher. Oh, by the way, I’m rampaging for a good cause: Stop the Steal. Somebody stole my father’s Rolex right off his wrist! Now he has to go to the trouble of filing an insurance claim. They say he’s hiding it somewhere. That’s enough for a rampage right there! By the way, how do you like my new watch? Coincidentally, it’s a Rolex. Ha ha.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Prodiorthosis (pro-di-or-tho’-sis): A statement intended to prepare one’s audience for something shocking or offensive. An extreme example of protherapeia.
Freedom by any means. Justice for all. Sometimes the pursuit of political reform cannot be achieved by the ballot. You heard the noise outside—the yelling, the explosions, the gunfire. Accordingly, reform has taken place. Blood has been spilled. The tyrant is no more. He is dead. His corpse is burning in the town square as I speak.
Now, we shall return to our democratic roots. The tyrant’s political co-conspirators will be tried and most likely die by being hanged.
This has been a horrific time in our country’s history. Our democracy is restored. Elections will be held in three months. Go out and spread the word. We are once again the home of freedom and justice for all.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Proecthesis (pro-ek’-the-sis): When, in conclusion, a justifying reason is provided.
Me: Ok. I lied to you about everything. My name isn’t John. My father isn’t George Bush. I never went to college. I hate Swiss cheese. This house isn’t mine. I’m not an attorney. But, I love you. When your dad was fatally wounded during our last liquor store holdup, I promised him I would do anything to make sure you have a good life, and we have had a good life despite my lies.
You: My father?! I’m leaving. I’m never coming back. You piece of shit.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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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. You tell me you’re faithful—that you’ll always love me. Ha! You make us dinner? Ha! So does the guy at Arby’s when we go there. Does he love me? You have sex with me? Ha! What do you call sex? Watching “Wheel of Fortune” together? What about the guy that lives in the basement? Bill’s not your brother—I checked—you don’t have a brother. Things are adding up: 1,2,3 get the hell away from me.
2. We’re going to Pasta Palace tonight! I’m going to have the Mountain of Spaghetti with those basketball-sized meatballs, at least two bottles of vino, and the special Holy Cannoli with the plastic lamb on it. I can smell it. I can taste it. Who’s paying for it?
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.
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Protherapeia (pro-ther-a-pei’-a): Preparing one’s audience for what one is about to say through conciliating words. If what is to come will be shocking, the figure is called prodiorthosis.
We take too much for granted. Life seems to go on over the smoothness of our daily routines—called “hum drum” because they drone on, beating out their beat monotonously. But then, in a couple of hours, this morning, the mall burned down: right to the ground. Now, it’s a smoking heap. Who could know? Who would ever believe there would be a riot that put the mall in flames? What started with a small peaceful group protesting the parking lot’s inability to accommodate all shoppers’ cars, turned into the most destructive criminal act in our city’s history. But don’t worry: the perpetrators (mostly from out of town) will be brought to justice and the mall will be rebuilt with a larger parking lot. All will be made well.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Protrope (pro-tro’-pe): A call to action, often by using threats or promises.
If you don’t pick up your clothes, I’m going to take away your phone. I thought you’d learned after the lawn mowing failure incident when I locked you in the garage for a week. But no. Pick up the damn clothes you little bastard! I’ll count to ten and then it’s hand over the phone. 1 . . .
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Proverb: One of several terms describing short, pithy sayings. Others include adage, apothegm, gnome, maxim, paroemia, and sententia.
“A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Lincoln said this on the eve of the Civil War. As the political polarization in the US continues to evolve, we have to ask where we are going. Although the circumstances of our divisions are different from the Civil War’s, the divisions exist, and they are monumental. If they persist and grow and fester, violence is inevitable. The 1/6 Insurrection is a case in point. I don’t see a remedy.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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