Tag Archives: figures of speech

Prodiorthosis

Posted on February 20, 2008 | Leave a comment

Prodiorthosis (pro-di-or-tho’-sis): A statement intended to prepare one’s audience for something shocking or offensive. An extreme example of protherapeia.

Given last week’s tragic events, please be advised that what I’m about to show you and tell you will be deeply disturbing–it may even sicken you. However, given our sworn duty and obligation to serve the people, we must examine all the evidence and know all the facts.

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

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Intimation

Posted on February 16, 2008 | Leave a comment

Intimation: Hinting at a meaning but not stating it explicitly.

Well, this isn’t exactly our worst effort to date.

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

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Protrope

Posted on February 15, 2008 | Leave a comment

Protrope (pro-tro’-pe): A call to action, often by using threats or promises.

If you pass this legislation, I promise you the world will be a safer place.

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

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Protherapeia

Posted on February 14, 2008 | Leave a comment

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.

It benefits us all to face the cold hard facts, carefully examine them, and be satisfied that we’ve honestly considered everything that bears upon this important decision. This is a good thing. This is what we are entrusted to do. This is our charge. So, prepare yourselves to know the truth and be grateful that we have it in hand.

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

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Ominatio

Posted on February 13, 2008 | Leave a comment

Ominatio (o-mi-na’-ti-o): A prophecy of evil.

When hopeful words are called platitudes, when leadership is mocked, when the people’s voice is muted, and the media fails to take stock; then the Republic will drift into disrepair and demagogues will hold sway serving their self-interests as the state’s foundation decays, the public trust turns to dust, and all that held us dear and near quietly blows away.

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

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Paregmenon

Posted on February 12, 2008 | Leave a comment

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.

This victory is our victory. This day is our day. The time has come to seize the future!

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

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Exouthenismos

Posted on February 11, 2008 | Leave a comment

Exouthenismos (ex-ou-then-is’-mos): An expression of contempt.

You cheated. You lied. You broke my heart. You are vile.

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

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Dilemma

Posted on February 10, 2008 | Leave a comment

Dilemma (di-lem’-ma): Offering to an opponent a choice between two (equally unfavorable) alternatives.

Either you made a mistake, or you did it on purpose–either way, you must respond to the accusation.

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

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Metabasis

Posted on February 9, 2008 | Leave a comment

Metabasis (me-ta’-ba-sis): A transitional statement in which one explains what has been and what will be said.

Now that I’ve explained three of the major causes of air pollution, let’s look at three of the major effects of air pollution.

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

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Perclusio

Posted on February 7, 2008 | Leave a comment

Perclusio (per-clu’-si-o): A threat against someone, or something.

If you walk out now–when we need you more than ever–I will make sure that you never see the inside of this house again.

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

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Pareuresis

Posted on February 7, 2008 | Leave a comment

Pareuresis (par-yur-ee’-sis): To put forward a convincing excuse.

The power went out last night while I was asleep & my alarm clock shut down–that’s why I’m a little late.  Sorry. I’m going to put fresh back-up batteries in it when I get home tonight.

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

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Enigma

Posted on February 5, 2008 | Leave a comment

Enigma (e-nig’-ma): Obscuring one’s meaning by presenting it within a riddle or by means of metaphors that purposefully challenge the reader or hearer to understand.

You always win and always lose when you compete against whom?

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

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Ara

Posted on February 4, 2008 | Leave a comment

Ara (a’-ra): Cursing or expressing detest towards a person or thing for the evils they bring, or for inherent evil.

According to Global Health Reporting.Org, “Malaria, one of the world’s most common and serious tropical diseases, causes at least one million deaths every year–the majority of which occur in the most resource-poor countries.”

The persistence of this disease and the death toll it annually exacts on “at least one million” of our fellow human beings are truly deserving of a depth of anger, a degree of disgust, and yes, a pointed feeling of guilt on our part for failing to demand every day that the world’s leaders allocate the medical and material resources to help those who are stricken, and to eradicate this evil disease from the face of the earth forever.

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

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Apoplanesis

Posted on February 3, 2008 | Leave a comment

Apoplanesis (a-po-plan’-e-sis): Promising to address the issue but effectively dodging it through a digression.

You’ve asked me to elaborate on my health care policy, and I will. These questions are good questions and our face-to-face engagement of these pressing issues is one of the best ways to sort out our differences and provide people with a clear-cut avenue of choice. Making choices and  . . .

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

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Asphalia

Posted on February 2, 2008 | Leave a comment

Asphalia (as-fay’-li-a): Offering oneself as a guarantee, usually for another.

If my brother can’t come through for you, take it out on me–he’s too young and too idealistic to take that kind of hit.

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

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Palilogia

Posted on February 1, 2008 | 2 comments

Palilogia (pa-li-lo’-gi-a): Repetition of the same word, with none between, for vehemence. Synonym for epizeuxis.

That was bad, bad, bad!

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

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Metalepsis

Posted on January 31, 2008 | Leave a comment

Metalepsis (me-ta-lep’-sis): Reference to something by means of another thing that is remotely related to it, either through a farfetched causal relationship, or through an implied intermediate substitution of terms. Often used for comic effect through its preposterous exaggeration. A metonymical substitution of one word for another which is itself figurative.

You’re such a shoe head–Birkenstock, Gucci, Puma, Nike, Bass, Timberland, Crocs, Nine West, Marc Jacobs, ECCO, Zanotti, Clergerie, Vacini. Yikes! Your closet looks like Zappos’s website!

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

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Mesodiplosis

Posted on January 30, 2008 | Leave a comment

Mesodiplosis (mes-o-dip-lo’-sis): Repetition of the same word or words in the middle of successive sentences.

We didn’t win today, and I’m not going to give up. Today, we haven’t achieved our highest hopes, and I’m not going to feel disheartened. I am not the winner today, and I’m not going to be the loser tomorrow. It isn’t over yet.  There’s a long way to go. We will prevail. We will win.

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

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Hysterologia

Posted on January 29, 2008 | Leave a comment

Hysterologia (his-ter-o-lo’-gi-a): A form of hyperbaton or parenthesis in which one interposes a phrase between a preposition and its object.  Also, a synonym for hysteron proteron.

We sent a package filled with her favorite goodies to (with love and affection) our wonderful daughter. We miss her.

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

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Inter se pugnantia

Posted on January 28, 2008 | Leave a comment

Inter se pugnantia (in’-ter-say-pug-nan’-ti-a): Using direct address to reprove someone before an audience, pointing out the contradictions in that person’s character, often between what a person does and says.

You say you’re committed to working on behalf of the American people.  Yet, when we look at your voting record, it seems that you consistently support legislation that favors the haves and leaves out the have-nots.  The “American people” means all of us. Why divide the American people when you can unite the American people by serving their common interests–pushing for affordable health care, educational opportunities, a healthy environment, and world peace. In short, by pushing for a better future for all of us.

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

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Hypallage

Posted on January 27, 2008 | Leave a comment

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.

Our starry singing rose to meet the jubilant sky.

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

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Paenismus

Posted on January 26, 2008 | Leave a comment

Paenismus (pai-nis’-mus): Expressing joy for blessings obtained or an evil avoided.

I am so thankful that I made no moves in the stock market last week–I was ‘this close’ to selling! Close call!

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

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Onedismus

Posted on January 25, 2008 | Leave a comment

Onedismus (on-e-dis’-mus): Reproaching someone for being impious or ungrateful.

Don’t ask me what I’ve done for you lately!  Instead, you better ask what you’ve done for me! How about just saying thanks for once?

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

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Exuscitatio

Posted on January 24, 2008 | Leave a comment

Exuscitatio (ex-us-ci-ta’-ti-o): Stirring others by one’s own vehement feeling (sometimes by means of a rhetorical question, and often for the sake of exciting anger).

How many times do we have to be told “Not yet”? How many times do we have to stand outside in the cold and be told “Wait your turn”? Well, it is your turn–it’s always your turn when truth and justice open the door wide so everybody has a chance to go on through. Let’s call on truth and justice to open that door–let’s hope they come and hold it open so we don’t have to tear it off its hinges!

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

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Metastasis

Posted on January 23, 2008 | Leave a comment

Metastasis (me-tas’-ta-sis): Denying and turning back on your adversaries arguments used against you.

You say I asserted that Richard Nixon was the twentieth century’s greatest President. That is simply untrue. Watch the interview–it’s on MSNBC’s website. But you, on the other hand, in your book, said exactly what you’re accusing me of saying.  Look it up–page 126.

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

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