Tag Archives: figures of speech

Paragogoe

Posted on December 25, 2007 | Leave a comment

Paragoge (par-a-go’-ge): The addition of a letter or syllable to the end of a word. A kind of metaplasm.

I like your trucky.

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

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Tagged elocutio, example, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, metaplasm, paragoge, rhetoric, The Daily Trope, trope, truck

Aganactesis

Posted on December 24, 2007 | Leave a comment

Aganactesis (ag’-an-ak-tee’-sis): An exclamation proceeding from deep indignation.

Your lies, phony excuses, insincerity, and all-around disgusting failure to meet the basic expectations set for honesty, openness, and due diligence in any position of leadership, let alone yours, prompts me and everybody else with a conscience to call for your immediate resignation. Liar! Fool! Fake! Step down! Get out! Go home!

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

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Apocope

Posted on December 23, 2007 | Leave a comment

Apocope (a-pok’-o-pe): Omitting a letter or syllable at the end of a word. A kind of metaplasm.

Letter ‘t‘ omitted: He was an hon-es nuisance!

Final syllable ‘cle‘ omitted: He could bi-cy from here to outer space on that old ten-speed!

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

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Barbarism

Posted on December 23, 2007 | Leave a comment

Barbarism (bar’-bar-ism): The use of nonstandard or foreign speech (see cacozelia); the use of a word awkwardly forced into a poem’s meter; or unconventional pronunciation. Like solecisms (elements of speech or writing that are incorrect grammatically), barbarisms are possible according to each of the four categories of change (addition, subtraction, transposition, substitution).

Addition, subtraction, transposition, and substitution comprise the four categories of change. These are fundamental rhetorical strategies for the manipulation and variation of discourse across a vast array of linguistic levels: word forms, sentences, paragraphs, entire texts or speeches, etc.

Addition: Today he is happy-ay!

Subtraction: I’m sad and he’s happ, specially when he’s took my bap!

Transposition: Happy was he.

Substitution: He was happy and so too was his pet weasel.

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

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Tagged barbarism, cacozelia, elocutio, figures of speech, public speaking, rhetoric, solecism

Metaplasm

Posted on December 23, 2007 | Leave a comment

Metaplasm (met’-a-plazm): A general term for orthographical figures (changes to the spelling of words). This includes alteration of the letters or syllables in single words, including additions, omissions, inversions, and substitutions. Such changes are considered conscious choices made by the artist or orator for the sake of eloquence or meter, in contrast to the same kinds of changes done accidentally and discussed by grammarians as vices (see barbarism). See: antisthecon, aphaeresis, apocope, epenthesis (example below: the addition of a letter, sound, or syllable to the middle of a word), paragoge, synaloepha.

Metaplasms are fanlastastic!

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

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Tagged antisthecon, aphaeresis, apocope, barbarism, elocutio, epenthesis, figures of speech, metaplasm, paragoge, public speaking, rhetoric, style, synaloepha, The Daily Trope

Mesarchia

Posted on December 22, 2007 | Leave a comment

Mesarchia (mes-ar’-chi-a): The repetition of the same word or words at the beginning and middle of successive sentences.

I was their leader, after all, and I was true to their cause. I was their hope, after all, and their hope was a treasure that was made safe by our dream. I was their inspiration, after all, and together we made the world a better place; we rejoiced in the spirit of our dream’s fulfillment. I was, after all, theirs–all theirs.

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

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Tagged dreams, elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, inspiration, leadership, mesarchia, rhetoric, The Daily Trope

Epexegesis

Posted on December 21, 2007 | Leave a comment

Epexegesis (ep-ex-e-ge’-sis): When one interprets what one has just said. A kind of redefinition or self-interpretation (often signaled by constructions such as “that is to say…”).

This is going to be a lot more difficult than we expected–that is to say, we’re going to have to outsource at least six key functions in order to get the job done.

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

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Tagged elocutio, epexegesis, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, public speaking, rhetoric, The Daily Trope

Euphemismus

Posted on December 20, 2007 | Leave a comment

Euphemismus (eu-phe-mis’-mus): Substituting a more favorable for a pejorative or socially delicate term.

With deep sadness, I must tell you all, that this morning at 6:45, our beloved friend and mentor went on to a better place.

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

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Tagged elocutio, euphemismus, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, public speaking, rhetoric, The Daily Trope

Colon

Posted on December 19, 2007 | Leave a comment

Colon (ko’-lon): Roughly equivalent to “clause” in English, except that the emphasis is on seeing this part of a sentence as needing completion, either with a second colon (or membrum) or with two others (forming a tricolon). When cola (or membra) are of equal length, they form isocolon.

Colon or membrum is also best understood in terms of differing speeds of style that depend upon the length of the elements of a sentence. The Ad Herennium author contrasts the slower speed of concatenated membra to the quicker speed of words joined together without conjunction (articulus).

Upon returning home, first, I hung my coat in the closet, and then, I turned up the heat.

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

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Tagged articulus, clause, colon, elocutio, example, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, isocolon, membrum, rhetoric, The Daily Trope, tricolon, trope

Sententia

Posted on December 18, 2007 | Leave a comment

Sententia (sen-ten’-ti-a): One of several terms describing short, pithy sayings. Others include adage, apothegm, gnome, maxim, paroemia, and proverb.

“We are what we repeatedly do.”

Aristotle (Quotations, Proverbs & Sayings)

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

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Tagged adage, apothegm, elocutio, figures of speech, gnome, maxim, paroemia, proverb, rhetoric

Apothegm

Posted on December 17, 2007 | Leave a comment

Apothegm (a’-po-th-e-gem): One of several terms describing short, pithy sayings. Others include adage, gnome, maxim, paroemia, proverb, and sententia.

“One of these days is none of these days.”

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

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Maxim

Posted on December 16, 2007 | Leave a comment

Maxim (max’-im): One of several terms describing short, pithy sayings. Others include adage, apothegm, gnome, paroemia, proverb, and sententia.

“Where the river is deepest it makes the least sound.”

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

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Tagged adage, apothegm, elocutio, figures of speech, gnome, Gorgias's Weblog, maxim, paroemia, proverb, public speaking, rhetoric, sententia, The Daily Trope

Paroemia

Posted on December 15, 2007 | Leave a comment

Paroemia (pa-ri’-mi-a): One of several terms describing short, pithy sayings. Others include adage, apothegm, gnome, maxim, proverb, and sententia.

“It’s hard to make a comeback when you haven’t been anywhere.”

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

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Tagged adage, apothegm, elocutio, figures of speech, gnome, Gorgias's Weblog, maxim, proverb, public speaking, rhetoric, sententia, The Daily Trope

Gnome

Posted on December 14, 2007 | Leave a comment

Gnome (nome or no’mee): One of several terms describing short, pithy sayings. Others include adage, apothegm, maxim, paroemia, proverb, and sententia.

Liars are the loneliest people in the world.

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

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Tagged adage, apothegm, elocutio, figures of speech, gnome, Gorgias's Weblog, maxim, paroemia, proverb, public speaking, rhetoric, sententia, The Daily Trope

Proverb

Posted on December 13, 2007 | Leave a comment

Proverb: One of several terms describing short, pithy sayings. Others include adage, apothegm, gnome, maxim, paroemia, and sententia.

Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. (Prov. 13:10 [NIV])

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

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Ecphonesis

Posted on December 12, 2007 | Leave a comment

Ecphonesis (ec-pho-nee’-sis): An emotional exclamation.

Wow! What a beautiful day!

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

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Tagged ecphonesis, elocutio, example, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, joy, public speaking, rhetoric, The Daily Trope, weather

Epergesis

Posted on December 11, 2007 | Leave a comment

Epergesis (e-per-gee’-sis): Interposing an apposition, often in order to clarify what has just been stated.

I saw you right over there, that is, in my office, rummaging through my desk. What were you looking for?

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

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Tagged appositio, apposition, elocutio, epergesis, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, public speaking, rhetoric, The Daily Trope

Dialogismus

Posted on December 10, 2007 | Leave a comment

Dialogismus (di-a-lo-giz’-mus): Speaking as someone else, either to bring in others’ points of view into one’s own speech, or to conduct a pseudo-dialog through taking up an opposing position with oneself.

When I was a little boy, right before he died, the last thing my Grandpa said to me was, “You better go to school. School is good for you.” So I went to school. I went, and I went, and I went; and I graduated, and I graduated, and I graduated. Education saved my life. Grandpa was right. Thanks Grandpa! Thanks for the great advice!

So, I want to say to you, even though I’m not your grandpa: You better go to school. School is good for you. Take it from me, education will save your life.

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

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Antisthecon

Posted on December 9, 2007 | Leave a comment

Antisthecon (an-tis’-the-con): Substitution of one sound, syllable, or letter for another within a word. A kind of metaplasm: the general term for changes to word spelling.

He was a self-proclaimed “dangerous punslinger” whose aim was quite atrocious. The best way to deal with him was to duck out of the conversation before he started randomly firing off his annoying puns.

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

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Epicrisis

Posted on December 8, 2007 | Leave a comment

Epicrisis (e-pi-cri’-sis): When a speaker quotes a certain passage and makes comment upon it.

Related figures: anamenesis–calling to memory past matters. More specifically, citing a past author from memory–and chreia (from the Greek chreiodes, “useful”) . . . “a brief reminiscence referring to some person in a pithy form for the purpose of edification.” It takes the form of an anecdote that reports either a saying, an edifying action, or both.

At Gettysburg, it was Abraham Lincoln’s earnest hope that “this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” This hope is alive today–especially as we wind our way, as a nation, toward the upcoming presidential elections. As candidates vie for our attention and for our votes, we should ask at the close of every one of their speeches: “What would Abraham Lincoln say about their resolve–their desire–to listen to the people’s voice?” For every election is underwritten by our deep faith in the people’s voice–in the collective good will and dignity of the people, and the desire of the people, as far as they are people, for liberty and justice and peace and prosperity–the soul of the Republic and the substance of our humanity.

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

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Tagged anamnesis, anecdote, chreia, elocutio, epicrisis, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, public speaking, rhetoric, The Daily Trope

Amphibologia

Posted on December 7, 2007 | Leave a comment

Amphibologia (am’-fi-bo-lo’-gi-a): Ambiguity of grammatical structure, often occasioned by mispunctuation. [A vice of ambiguity.]

Barny fed his dog Eddie.

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

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Tagged ambiguity, amphibologia, elocutio, example, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, The Daily Trope, trope

Dianoea

Posted on December 6, 2007 | Leave a comment

Dianoea (di-a-noe’-a): The use of animated questions and answers in developing an argument (sometimes simply the equivalent of anthypophora).

Have no fear hubby’s here! And well . . . What did I do on Friday? I went to the mall for four hours! What did I do on Saturday? I made reservations for dinner at your favorite restaurant! What about Sunday? I contacted all your friends to invite them over tonight. And how about right now? I made you breakfast in bed (with this juicy little Rolex on the side)! You are my number one! There’s no way I want it any other way. You are the love of my life! You are the best! Happy birthday dear wife! Today’s your day! Your wish is my command.

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

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Systrophe

Posted on December 4, 2007 | Leave a comment

Systrophe (si’-stro-fee): The listing of many qualities or descriptions of someone or something, without providing an explicit definition.

Human beings are complicated creatures! How caring, how filled with rage, how attentive, how lost in space, how loyal, how unfaithful, how obedient, how rebellious, how generous, how stingy–how completely dialectical–how vexed, how mercurial!

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

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Tagged elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, style, systrophe, The Daily Trope

Ellipsis

Posted on December 2, 2007 | Leave a comment

Ellipsis (el-lip’-sis): Omission of a word or short phrase easily understood in context.

I gave a book to my daughter and my daughter, a book to me!

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

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Mesozeugma

Posted on December 1, 2007 | Leave a comment

Mesozeugma (me’-so-zyoog’-ma): A zeugma in which one places a common verb for many subjects in the middle of a construction.

Neither hope nor fear could move her; neither bright promises nor beligerent threats.

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

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Tagged composition, elocutio, example, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, mesozeugma, public speaking, rhetoric, style, The Daily Trope, trope