Tag Archives: figures of speech

Ecphonesis

Posted on June 30, 2012 | Leave a comment

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

Repeal it!

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

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Ampliatio

Posted on June 26, 2012 | Leave a comment

Ampliatio (am’-pli-a’-ti-o): Using the name of something or someone before it has obtained that name or after the reason for that name has ceased. A form of epitheton.

Even though he’s 45 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 240 pounds, I still call him Skinny Boy. It isn’t about his age or his height and weight, it’s about Skinny Boy and the great times we had as kids–back when, if he turned sideways and stuck out his tongue, he looked like a zipper!

. . .

Hey, Skinny Boy,  it’s great to see you again after all these years–high school was insane! What’ve you been up to? You put on a few pounds!

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

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Palilogia

Posted on June 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

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

That’s all he wants to do: spend, spend, spend! You cannot spend your way out of a recession. It’s simple math. You must slash your way out of a recession: Taxes! Public employees! Entitlements! Slash, slash, slash! That’s the way to do it!

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

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Prozeugma

Posted on June 9, 2012 | Leave a comment

Prozeugma (pro-zoog’-ma): A series of clauses in which the verb employed in the first is elided (and thus implied) in the others.

Time is consciousness of when. Space, of where. Me, of here and now.

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

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Mesozeugma

Posted on May 28, 2012 | 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.

The lunar eclipse was beautiful; the soft sound of the dan bau, the night sky, your gentle smile too. 

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

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Epiplexis

Posted on May 26, 2012 | Leave a comment

Epiplexis (e-pi-plex’-is): Asking questions in order to chide, to express grief, or to inveigh. A kind of rhetorical question.

What kind of idiot are you? Didn’t you realize that you’d get hurt if you used my chainsaw blindfolded? Where did you get the idea that doing what your stupid so-called friends dare you to do is the right thing to do? You’re lucky to be alive. I hope your foot heals soon.

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

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Thaumasmus

Posted on May 22, 2012 | Leave a comment

Thaumasmus (thau-mas’-mus): To marvel at something rather than to state it in a matter of fact way.

It is totally amazing that Mitt Romney was ever the Bain of anybody’s existence. Thousands of workers fired? Come on, he’s such a smiley, well-groomed guy.  I’d trust him with your life.

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

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Onomatopoeia

Posted on May 21, 2012 | Leave a comment

Onomatopoeia (on-o-mat-o-pee’-a): Using or inventing a word whose sound imitates that which it names (the union of phonetics and semantics).

Mush! Coosh! We eat it so fast our hands go swoosh! Mmmmm.

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

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Sarcasmus

Posted on May 20, 2012 | Leave a comment

Sarcasmus (sar’-kaz-mus): Use of mockery, verbal taunts, or bitter irony.

Those Greeks sure know how to manage their money–nothing beats double-triple-minus-∞ junk bond status as a testament to Greece’s brilliance at managing its finances.

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

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Astrothesia

Posted on May 18, 2012 | Leave a comment

Astrothesia (as-tro-the’-si-a): A vivid description of stars. One type of enargia.

In some story of ancient origins, stars are holes that let out a dreamy light to still our spinning thoughts and send us off to dream underneath the blanket of night.

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

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Optatio

Posted on May 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

Optatio (op-ta’-ti-o): Expressing a wish, often ardently.

Child: Mommy! I wish I had an iPad–one of the new ones. Mommy, please buy me an iPad. Please Mommy! Please! Please! Please!

Mother: No.

Child: I hate you. I wish you were dead.

Mother: You’re grounded.

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

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Catacosmesis

Posted on May 10, 2012 | Leave a comment

Catacosmesis (kat-a-kos-mees’-is): Ordering words from greatest to least in dignity, or in correct order of time.

Birth, infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, old age. Life’s phases narrate time.

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

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Hypozeuxis

Posted on May 9, 2012 | Leave a comment

Hypozeuxis  (hyp-o-zook’-sis): Opposite of zeugma. Every clause has its own verb.

Last night the sweaty Indiana campaign crowd cheered, the winning candidate smiled and waved, and Lugar’s legacy was demolished, flattened, paved over.  And today, on that great flat expanse, the fleet of shiny new 2013 Conservative Avengers (made in USA) is lined up in a row in accord with the giant red, white, and blue sign at the entrance:

Park to the Far Right or Be Towed

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

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Allegory

Posted on May 8, 2012 | Leave a comment

Allegory (al’-le-go-ry): A sustained metaphor continued through whole sentences or even through a whole discourse.

Prince Mite Yenmor looked out from his mountain lair across the Lake of Salt and saw the Untied States, and feeling in his slender royal gut a yen for more, with gleaming eyes and snow capped teeth he spoke: “Yea, I shall be ruler of this realm. I shall spend more than a fortune in gold and I shall buy a troop of low-browed voting sluggards, and inflaming their hearts, I shall make them thirst for justice, and so,  as they so-thirst, I shall call them by the proud name of their beverage of choice–The Mighty 7 Ups, The Bud Lite Brigade, or, oh yes, that’s it!  The Lipton Lancers! That shall suit them to a tea! Ha ha, my royal sense of humor waxes!”

And so, Prince Yenmor bought and named the Lipton Lancers and set out to quench the Lancers’ thirst for justice and topple King Amabo with a mighty loud and raucous chorus of finely penned insults, oft repeated BIG LIES, and the jewel in the crown of Prince Yenmor’s certain victory: the unyielding allegiance of Sir Fox the Crier who broadcast Yenmor’s nice hair, good posture, glorious smile, and royal words throughout the Untied States.

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

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Oxymoron

Posted on May 7, 2012 | Leave a comment

Oxymoron (ox-y-mo’-ron): Placing two ordinarily opposing terms adjacent to one another. A compressed paradox.

He is cunningly ingenuous with the rolled up sleeves of his shirt and the “Aw shucks howdy do” as he reaches out to shake hands with you. But the shirt is tailor made, and so is the handshake–tailor made to make you think he’s “just like you” so a vote for him is a vote for you too!

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

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Apagoresis

Posted on May 6, 2012 | Leave a comment

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.  

Keep riding that motorcycle and some day you’ll be a red skid mark on the asphalt, or, if you’re lucky, a comatose stick in a hospital bed.

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

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Coenotes

Posted on May 4, 2012 | Leave a comment

Coenotes (cee’-no-tees): Repetition of two different phrases: one at the beginning and the other at the end of successive paragraphs. Note: Composed of anaphora and epistrophe, coenotes is simply a more specific kind of symploce (the repetition of phrases, not merely words).

Hear me! We have journeyed a long, long way. And, I say, we are almost home.

Hear me! Our map is faith and our hope moves our tired feet. And, I say, we are almost home.

Hear me! We are going home to the place to rest, to break bread, to call our own! I can feel it! We are almost home!

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

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Antimetabole

Posted on May 1, 2012 | Leave a comment

Antimetabole (an’-ti-me-ta’-bo-lee): Repetition of words, in successive clauses, in reverse grammatical order.

Ham and cheese. Cheese and ham. It doesn’t matter how you stack ’em, they’re gonna be a sandwich, man!

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

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Personification

Posted on April 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

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.).

That clock on the wall knows what time it is. Pay attention to what it’s saying! It’s telling you that you better leave right now or you’ll miss your bus to Las Vegas.

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

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Hendiadys

Posted on April 23, 2012 | Leave a comment

Hendiadys (hen-di’-a-dis): Expressing a single idea by two nouns [joined by a conjunction] instead of a noun and its qualifier. A method of amplification that adds force.

Without star and spangles and spectacles, parties’ political conventions wouldn’t be political conventions. Silly hats, confetti, fog horns, and Tele-prompted speeches! That’s what it’s all about.

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

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Apocarteresis

Posted on April 22, 2012 | Leave a comment

Apocarteresis (a-po-car-ter’-e-sis): Casting of all hope away from one thing and placing it on another source altogether.

Once upon a time I trusted my honesty, sincerity, and goodwill to find me friends. I learned quickly that this spelled “sucker” to most of the strangers I met, and I was ripped off more times than I care to say. Now, I trust a private detective to run background checks on everybody I meet.   So far, I haven’t found any friends, but I haven’t been ripped off either!

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

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Periphrasis

Posted on April 13, 2012 | Leave a comment

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.)

Mother Romney is no Mother Theresa.  She’s no mother Hubbard either. NEVER a Ma Kettle! No my friends, if she’s anybody, she’s  a regular Olivia Walton. The only difference is that Ann has two Cadillacs & Olivia had no Cadillacs.

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

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Synonymia

Posted on April 11, 2012 | Leave a comment

Synonymia (si-no-ni’-mi-a): In general, the use of several synonyms together to amplify or explain a given subject or term. A kind of repetition that adds emotional force or intellectual clarity. Synonymia often occurs in parallel fashion. The Latin synonym, interpretatio, suggests the expository and rational nature of this figure, while another Greek synonym, congeries, suggests the emotive possibilities of this figure.

It’s over for Rick Santorum. He is finished. His campaign is through.

Rick Santorum fought for what he believed in. He tried to sink the liberal Romney frigate. Our conservative Captain waged war until it was clear, apparent, and doubtless that he had to turn his wheel and shift his course a little to the left to win the battle for Admiral of the Republican Fleet.  He was unwilling to chart such a course, and now, continuing on his right-bound course he sails off to glory on the Conservative Tradewinds toward a safe and friendly harbor on cable TV.

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

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Bomphiologia

Posted on April 10, 2012 | Leave a comment

Bomphiologia (bom-phi-o-lo’-gi-a): Exaggeration done in a self-aggrandizing manner, as a braggart.

As a businessman I’ve done so many really wonderful things. I fired 1,000s of people. I made enough money to buy Rhode Island, and I didn’t keep all the money for myself.

Clearly my track record as a businessman qualifies me to be President of the United State of America, Inc.

Just call me “The Profit Mitt: Your Blue Chip Investment in America’s Future.”

(Oh, and by the way, don’t forget my charming smile, the attractive gray stripes on my temples, my incredibly good posture, the fact that I go to bed early every night, and last, but not least, my endearing sense of humor.)

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

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Charientismus

Posted on April 9, 2012 | Leave a comment

Charientismus (kar-i-en-tia’-mus): Mollifying harsh words by answering them with a smooth and appeasing mock.

Willard Mitt Romney! Shame on you! You better be a good little politician and stop saying nasty things about your opponents. If you don’t behave yourself in Pennsylvania, Karl Rove will spank you!

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

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