Antiprosopopoeia (an-ti-pro-so-po-pe’-i-a): The representation of persons [or other animate beings] as inanimate objects. This inversion of prosopopoeia or personification can simply be the use of a metaphor to depict or describe a person [or other animate being].
Me: When I fall asleep I am a hubcap. When I am awake, I am a can of WD-40. What am I?
You: Off your medication.
Me: Ha! Ha! Wrong! I am an annoyed particle beam!! Get it? Par-ticle beam! Annoyed!!
You: Like I said, you’re off your medication.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.
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Tagged antiprosopopoeia, elocutio, example, figures of speech, rhetoric, trope, WD-40
Antirrhesis (an-tir-rhee’-sis): Rejecting reprehensively the opinion or authority of someone.
You claim to be an expert on life, love and learning! I took your advice and now my life is a mess, I am all alone and I feel more stupid than I ever felt in my life.
I paid you $900.00 to ‘tailor’ my life and you gave me a a giant clown suit made out of lies and decorated with pointless damaging advice.
Now I know what a life coach REALLY is: A Life ROACH. Be honest, that’s what you are, a sneaky little bug that’s hard to squash!
Well guess what? My lawyer will squash you in public. See you in court, you life-wrecking insect.
Definition courtesy of Silva Rhetoricae (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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Tagged antirrhesis, bozo the life coach, elocutio, example, figures of speech, rhetoric, trope
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. I know I need a bath. I know I’m a slob. I know you want to hose me down. I also know that I love you more than anything in the world and that love is not built on bathtubs, washcloths, and soap. It’s built on trust. Trust me, I’m going to take a long overdue bath tonight–with candlelight, and wine, and your favorite Barry White! I trust you will join me? Rub-a-dub-dub honey!
2. Ok, so you want to mount a hookah on your motorcycle seat. Aside from being insane, it’ll never work. Even if you have a windshield for your passenger-hookah, you can’t blow smoke rings at 80 miles per hour and when you stop and put the kickstand down, and get off the bike, the charcoal will fall off.
You should either quit hookah smoking or sell your motorcycle. Or, forget your latest stupid idea–besides, I’m not giving up my seat behind you to a shisha-burning bottle of water with a velvet hose! Mount the hookah and I’m leaving you once and for all! Idiot.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Tagged antisagoge, elocutio, example, figures of speech, hookah, motorcycle, paromologia, rhetoric, trope
Antistasis (an-ti’-sta-sis): The repetition of a word in a contrary sense. Often, simply synonymous with antanaclasis.
I am sorry you are such a sorry example of a human being! You are a laugh, but not the kind of laugh that makes me laugh! You’re the kind laugh that makes me want to vomit.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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Tagged antanaclasis, antistasis, elocutio, example, figures of speech, rhetoric, trope, you are a laugh, you are sorry
Antithesis (an-tith’-e-sis): Juxtaposition of contrasting words or ideas (often, although not always, in parallel structure).
The happy people and the sad people–opposite emotions, but not opposed as far as they are people. They can influence each other from where they stand. With empathy they may understand each other, and with understanding they build a bridge between happiness and sadness, that is itself neither happy nor sad. It is simply a place to meet and be together and consider each other as “us,” or “we,” or “friends,” or . . . ?
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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Tagged antithesis, elocutio, example, figures of speech, opposite are not opposed, rhetoric, trope
Antitheton (an-tith’-e-ton): A proof or composition constructed of contraries. Antitheton is closely related to and sometimes confused with the figure of speech that juxtaposes opposing terms, antithesis. However, it is more properly considered a figure of thought (=Topic of Invention: Contraries [a topic of invention in which one considers opposite or incompatible things that are of the same kind (if they are of different kinds, the topic of similarity / difference is more appropriate). Because contraries occur in pairs and exclude one another, they are useful in arguments because one can establish one’s case indirectly, proving one’s own assertion by discrediting the contrary]).
Stammering liars swarm across the angelic edges of life. In countless companies of tragedy they fold sonnets into into origami razors and slash kindness, love, and gentleness into fragments of dread, disgust, and despair.
Theirs is the darkness of light, the joy of fright, and the sinister beauty of fading life.
Ours is the perfect soul of truth: what cannot be torn and turned, touched or burned. Eternal. Immortal. Invincible. Ironic.
Definitions courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in antitheton
Tagged antithesis, antitheton, elocutio, example, figures of speech, ironic, origami razors, rhetoric, trope
Apagoresis (a-pa-gor’-e-sis): A statement designed to inhibit someone from doing something. Often uses exaggeration [or hyperbole] to persuade. It may combine an exaggeration with a cause/effect or antecedent/consequence relationship. The consequences or effects of such a phrase are usually exaggerated to be more convincing.
Pew, that stinks! Do that again and I’m going to pull over to the side of the road, get out the duct tape, and seal your gas pipe! Roll down the windows my eyes are burning! You are disgusting.
Definitions courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.
Posted in apagoresis
Tagged apagoresis, consequences, elocutio, example, fart joke, figures of speech, hyperbole, rhetoric, trope
Aphaeresis (aph-aer’-e-sis): The omission of a syllable or letter at the beginning of a word. A kind of metaplasm.
NOW! Move it! It’s time to do the Hokey Pokey and turn ourselves ’round! We all know that’s what it’s all about. Get whirling you wild dervishes!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Tagged aphaeresis, elocutio, example, figures of speech, hokey pokey. dervish, rhetoric, trope
Aphorismus ( a-phor-is’-mus): Calling into question the proper use of a word.
You call that a car? It looks more like a four-wheeled septic tank!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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Tagged aphorismus, elocutio, example, figures of speech, rhetoric, trope
Apocarteresis (a-po-car-ter’-e-sis): Casting of all hope away from one thing and placing it on another source altogether.
There was always love, and I took it, and I twisted it, and I tore it; I crumpled it, lit it on fire and threw it over the abyss between knowing and hoping–burning, sparking, smoking, falling, drowning in the bitter sloe pool; lukewarm and slithering–churning and grey, thick with the ashes of extinguished love–a perfect sump for hell.
Now, as I awaken frigid in the dim cramped closet where I hang, smelling camphor, and mothballs, and the left-over odors of long-departed clothes, I think of the bodies that wore them as they tore through life’s fashion arcade, wanting to look good, wanting to wear the latest, wanting to be admired and loved.
Now gone forever, only their empty hangers remain–some are plastic, some are wire, some are cedar, but they all hang quietly with eternally perfect spaces between them, keeping them perfectly apart.
How do I get down from here and touch the floor, and feel its wooden smoothness underneath my feet?
If I could only unbutton the clothes that hold me, I could slide off my hanger, leave my pants, and sandals, and shirt, and softly walk away.
To feel the wood, and then the earth, under my bare wiggly toes! To feel the sun and brush my teeth!
Back on the surface, back on my feet, I shall walk naked to Paradise (a famous shopping mall). There, I shall be refashioned; and looking good, and being admired, I shall be loved, and being loved, like a permanent-press shirt I shall tumble dry on low and feel the warmth of the cycle as my wrinkles smooth. I will I find love, and give love, and be loved, and that’s all there is.
Back to the ground! Back to the dirt! Back to the pleasures and all the things that hurt.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in apocarteresis
Tagged apocarteresis, current-events, elocutio, example, figures of speech, fire, hell, love, rhetoric, trope
Apocope (a-pok’-o-pe): Omitting a letter or syllable at the end of a word. A kind of metaplasm.
I’m goin’ to the supermarket right after lunch. Is there anythin’ I can get you?
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Apodixis (a-po-dix’-is): Proving a statement by referring to common knowledge or general experience.
There is no way I took your Apple Watch. What the heck would I do with it? I don’t even have an iPad, let alone an Apple-anything. You know I hate Apple–I’m close friends with Bob Gates for crying out loud!
We’ve been friends since high school–that’s 35 years! Have I ever taken anything from you ever? No! Why would I start now?
Do you think I need to steal stuff to sell to make money? Come on, I make $650,000 per year. Even if your watch was the $15,000 model, I could buy a dozen and throw them at homeless people on freeway on-ramps just for kicks!
Jeez! If this is such a big deal, I’ll even buy you a new one!
OK? Settled?
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in apodixis
Tagged apodixis, Apple Watch, current-events, elocutio, example, figures of speech, rhetoric, stolen, trope
Apophasis (a-pof’-a-sis): The rejection of several reasons why a thing should or should not be done and affirming a single one, considered most valid.
Should I get another tattoo?
1. No. Three are enough.
2. No. My wife will hit me with a garden tool.
3. No. I’m too old for another tattoo.
So, I guess not.
Hmmm. Wait a minute–I’ve changed my mind. I really, really, really want another tattoo, and wanting another one is a good enough reason for me.
Why else would you get a tattoo?
Now, I’ve got to figure out what it’s going to be and where to put it. Major challenge.
Post your own apophasis on the “Comments” page!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Aporia (a-po’-ri-a): Deliberating with oneself as though in doubt over some matter; asking oneself (or rhetorically asking one’s hearers) what is the best or appropriate way to approach something [=diaporesis].
How many hummingbirds can dance on the head of a large corporation?
On South Carolina?
On Patterson, New Jersey?
On a small cafeteria-sized bowl of Jello?
On a tennis court?
Under an umbrella?
But hummingbirds can’t dance.
Well, there you have it dance-wise, but what about sit-wise, stand-wise, or even hover-over-wise?
Be patient. Rome wasn’t built out of hummingbirds, and it took more than a couple of weeks. That’s why all roads lead to Rome, but you can’t make a horse drink.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in aporia
Tagged aporia, elocutio, example, figures of speech, hummingbirds, New Jersey, Patterson, rhetoric, trope
Apostrophe (a-pos’-tro-phe): Turning one’s speech from one audience to another. Most often, apostrophe occurs when one addresses oneself to an abstraction, to an inanimate object, or to the absent.
Truth.
What is your point?
To set me free?
To enslave me?
Truth.
What is your measure?
Sincerity?
Fact?
Consensus?
Authority?
Truth.
You are a belief without a conscience.
Now, you are present.
Now you are not.
Truth.
Outside of time, outside of circumstances, your invocation is a ruse; a magic trick; a catastrophe; a blinding light; a moonless, starless, skyless night.
No firmament
No ground.
No up or down.
No Truth
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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Tagged apostrophe, current-events, elocutio, example, figures of speech, rhetoric, trope, truth
Appositio (ap-po-sit’-i-o): Addition of an adjacent, coordinate, explanatory or descriptive element.
The long night has drawn to a close. That is, the rioting, the burning, and the looting are past us. Baltimore’s fires are extinguished, the liquor stores are emptied, and most people have gone home .
While that’s true, a new day is just beginning–a day wide-open with recriminations, apologies, accusations, encomia, vituperation and every other kind of voiced interest that may have influenced judgments of what motivated last night’s unrest.
The diversity of conflicted narratives about Baltimore is not unusual. Strife is rife with difference and the vexed narratives flow from standpoints. People speak, often unconscious of being situated somewhere within the universe of deeply-cultured sensibilities–a universe with no center.
Rather, people experience, inhabit and are divided and identified by their named ethno-centers. These “centers” are distinguished and divided by their ways of knowing, being, believing, and valuing that, ironically, are more or less opaque and unintelligible even to their inhabitants who, by imputation and avowal bear, are categorized by, and judged by their ethno-center’s name.
Yet, while there is no center, the spaces or border areas between the centers provide sites, the only sites, for enabling relationships between them. It is what is between US–our relationship–that is negotiated and constituted when we meet and talk or fight at the ethno-categorical borders. WE are responsible for the affect of that relationship on the quality of OUR lives–not my life, not your life.
From the outside, to the inside, to the borderlands, what’s most important right now–at this time and place–is the borderland and the space it provides to constitute something good for US, and WE have the power to make it right by what we say and how we say it to each other today. We must acknowledge this and build something good together and WE may want to name it “OUR desire for peace and justice.”
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in appositio
Tagged appositio, Baltimore, current-events, elocutio, example, figures of speech, rhetoric, The Daily Trope, trope, US
Asphalia (as-fay’-li-a): Offering oneself as a guarantee, usually for another.
Jeez! He’s just a kid! If you have to blame somebody, blame me. But please, leave my little brother alone. I’ll get your Glock back from him and ground him for 10 years! He’s too stupid to take the blame. I’ll take the hit.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Tagged asphalia, elocutio, example, figures of speech, Glock, rhetoric, The Daily Trope, trope
Assonance (ass’-o-nance): Repetition of similar vowel sounds, preceded and followed by different consonants, in the stressed syllables of adjacent words.
All along the way, from tomorrow, to today, to yesterday I’ve come to see that my life is a broken promise–a promise I made to us to trust and care and always be there–like some vapid Valentine’s Day card mailed by fate and delivered too late to make me love you, the truth is, you bore me more than death.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in assonance
Tagged assonance, elocutio, example, figures of speech, rhetoric, trope, Valentine's Day, you bore me
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: This is the worst sandwich I’ve ever had!
Pat: You should’ve ordered the wurst like me. This is the best wurst I’ve ever had. Too bad your sandwich is the worst!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged asteismus, elocutio, example, figures of speech, rhetoric, trope, worst, wurst
Astrothesia (as-tro-the’-si-a): A vivid description of stars. One type of enargia.
Stars are heaven’s asterisks. Bright reference marks spangling night’s page, spanning it with lights.
And after dark’s dark hours, stars yield to the sun’s single light. Then, they float on twilight’s tide toward the rising page of night.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in astrothesia
Tagged asterisks, astrothesia, elocutio, example, figures of speech, rhetoric, stars, trope
Asyndeton (a-syn’-de-ton): The omission of conjunctions between clauses, often resulting in a hurried rhythm or vehement effect. [Compare brachylogia. Opposite of polysyndeton.]
Run! Run! Run! Down! Down! Hurry! Run! Down! Hurry!
Museum, mall, mosque.
Main Street, temple, church.
Police station, train station, bus station.
Cafe, concert, public park.
Morning, daylight, evening, dark.
Doesn’t matter.
Pop Pop Pop
People cry.
People die.
People scatter.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.
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Tagged asyndeton, brachylogia, conjunctions, current-events, elocutio, example, figures of speech, polysyndeton, rhetoric, train station, trope
Auxesis (ok-see’-sis): (1) Arranging words or clauses in a sequence of increasing force. In this sense, auxesis is comparable to climax and has sometimes been called incrementum. (2) A figure of speech in which something is referred to in terms disproportionately large (a kind of exaggeration or hyperbole). (3) Amplification in general.
(1) See. Look. Like. Gaze. Love. Laugh. Cry. Turn. Go. (Repeat weekly for maximal heartache)
(2) My toothless aspirations chew the air behind my little cardboard sign: I am a beacon. I am a bucket. I am a pylon as high as Mars.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Tagged auxesis, elocutio, example, figures of speech, Mars, rhetoric, The Daily Trope, trope
Bdelygmia (del-ig’-mi-a): Expressing hatred and abhorrence of a person, word, or deed.
Acronym: an alphabet-letter compress pressed against the babble on.
Acronym: what drips from brevity’s rotted gash.
Acronym: a train of letters delivering secret cargo.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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