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!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in paenismus
Tagged elocutio, example, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, paenismus, rhetoric, The Daily Trope, trope
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?
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.ed).
Posted in onedismus
Tagged elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, onedismus, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
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!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in exuscitatio
Tagged elocutio, exuscitatio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
Mempsis (memp’-sis): Expressing complaint and seeking help.
Something is very wrong and it needs a lot of fixing. You work hard, yet you can’t afford college for your children. You work hard, yet you can’t afford health insurance for your children. In some cases, even though you work hard–maybe even at two jobs–you can’t provide your children with a nice place to live. And what’s worse, you can’t even look your children straight in the eye and say, “Don’t worry, everything’s going to be all right.” Well, the only way to make everything all right–to make it better–is to join together and help me help you make everything all right. In less than a year, with your vote, we can turn things around. The future can be better. I need your help. But, I need your help now. I need to be on that ballot in November if we’re going make everything all right. So, . . .
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in mempsis
Tagged elocutio, example, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, mempsis, rhetoric, The Daily Trope, trope
Meiosis (mei-o’-sis): Reference to something with a name disproportionately lesser than its nature (a kind of litotes). This term is equivalent to tapinosis.
We’ve got to cross those mountains to get to California? Hey–they’re just a couple of snow-capped bumps on the trail. Right?
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in meiosis
Tagged elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, litotes, meiosis, rhetoric, tapinosis, The Daily Trope
Medela (me-de’-la): When you can’t deny or defend friends’ faults and seek to heal them with good words.
You’ve got to stop saying things like that–you must, even after all these years, try to find a way to hold your tongue. Your enthusiasm is what we need. What we don’t need are the misdirected outbursts. They don’t help. Go home for awhile, get some rest, spend some quality time with your family, and think it over. We need you, and you’ve always been there when we’ve needed you. We’ll see you in Florida in a little while. Keep the faith. Give my best to your wonderful wife and kids. Get some R&R.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in medela
Tagged elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, medela, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
Martyria (mar-tir’-i-a): Confirming something by referring to one’s own experience.
She keeps referring to her 35 years of experience as a reason to vote for her. Well, I have experience too, and what’s more, I learned something from it–how to bring people together, inspire confidence, and make lasting positive change.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in martyria
Tagged elocutio, ethos, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, martyria, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
Hysteron Proteron (his’-ter-on pro’-ter-on): Disorder of time. (What should be first, isn’t.)
The car smashed into the tree. It skidded off the road. He fell asleep at the wheel. He was killed instantly. He told his wife not to wait up for him–that he’d be home before sunrise.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in hysteron proteron
Tagged elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, hysteron proteron, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
Horismus (hor-is’-mus): Providing a clear, brief definition, especially by explaining differences between associated terms.
The future, unlike the present, is yet to come, and the past is gone forever. Tomorrow. Today. Yesterday. The sum of all time.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in horismus
Tagged elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, horismus, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
Homoioptoton (ho-mee-op-to’-ton): The repetition of similar case endings in adjacent words or in words in parallel position.
Note: Since this figure only works with inflected languages, it has often been conflated with homoioteleuton and (at least in English) has sometimes become equivalent to simple rhyme: “To no avail, I ate a snail”
This is a long and difficult campaign trail. As I travel this troublesome road I will not fail. No matter where it takes me–through the lands of indecision and even the hamlets of hatred–I will prevail. For your hope is my travail. I will bear the burden of your dreams everywhere I go. Their weight will make me stronger. Their beauty will feed my hunger for truth and sustain me as I go forth to find a way to bring us all back home.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, homoioptoton, homoioteleuton, The Daily Trope
Distributio (dis-tri-bu’-ti-o): (1) Assigning roles among or specifying the duties of a list of people, sometimes accompanied by a conclusion. (2) Sometimes this term is simply a synonym for diaeresis or merismus, which are more general figures involving division.
The President is the Decider, the Vice President likes to decide what the Decider decides, hoping that the Supreme Court will decide to side with the Decider, while Congress often takes so many sides it can’t decide, and everybody else is undecided, except the Pundits, who get their information from insiders (who’re all on somebody’s side) and pollsters (who’re on the outside).
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in distributio
Tagged diaeresis, distributio, elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, merismus, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
Dirimens Copulatio (di’-ri-mens ko-pu-la’-ti-o): A figure by which one balances one statement with a contrary, qualifying statement (sometimes conveyed by “not only … but also” clauses). A sort of arguing both sides of an issue.
Protagoras (c. 485-410 BC) asserted that “to every logos (speech or argument) another logos is opposed,” a theme continued in the Dissoi Logoi of his time, later codified as the notion of arguments in utrumque partes (on both sides). Aristotle asserted that thinking in opposites is necessary both to arrive at the true state of a matter (opposition as an epistemological heuristic) and to anticipate counterarguments. This latter, practical purpose for investigating opposing arguments has been central to rhetoric ever since sophists like Antiphon (c. 480-410 BC) provided model speeches (his Tetralogies) showing how one might argue for either the prosecution or for the defense on any given issue. As such, [this] names not so much a figure of speech as a general approach to rhetoric, or an overall argumentative strategy. However, it could be manifest within a speech on a local level as well, especially for the purposes of exhibiting fairness (establishing ethos [audience perception of speaker credibility]).
This pragmatic embrace of opposing arguments permeates rhetorical invention, arrangement, and rhetorical pedagogy.
Not only should one tell the truth, but also, one should be prepared to lie when lying is warranted. Let me explain how this pertains to . . .
Definition and commentary courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Exergasia (ex-er-ga’-si-a): Repetition of the same idea, changing either its words, its delivery, or the general treatment it is given. A method for amplification, variation, and explanation. As such, exergasia compares to the progymnasmata exercises (rudimentary exercises intended to prepare students of rhetoric for the creation and performance of complete practice orations).
The time has come for change. Now we have the opportunity to repair what is broken and that has broken many of our hearts. Today we are ready to pick up the pieces together, and face toward the future together, with renewed optimism, trust, compassion, and love.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in exergasia
Tagged elocutio, exergasia, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, progymnasmata, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
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)
If at first you don’t succeed, find something easier to do.
1. “Paraprosdokian.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 4 Jan 2008, 03:30 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 9 Jan 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraprosdokian>.
Posted in paraprosdokian
Tagged anticlimax, elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, paraprosdokian, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
Effictio (ef-fik’-ti-o): A verbal depiction of someone’s body, often from head to toe.
Note: This figure was used in forensic rhetoric for purposes of clearly identifying an alleged criminal. It has often been adapted to poetical uses.
He had spiky yellow-gray hair with a red stripe running through it. His big blue eyes were bloodshot. He was skinny, slumped, and dressed in a black t-shirt with a big leering skull on it, torn blue jeans, and dull black boots. He had an empty styrofoam cup in his shaking hand. He pushed it at me as I walked toward him.”Spare change?”
His scratchy voice sounded familiar.
Unbelievable! My best buddy from high school–class of 1998! He didn’t recognize me. I barely recognized him. He looked right through me. I hauled out my wallet and . . .
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in effictio
Tagged effictio, elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, The Daily 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) I am worried by the fact that he’s running for office. I am frightened by the possibility that he may win the primary. I am terrified by what may happen if he actually gets elected.
(2) I love that little deli–they put a million slices of corned beef on their reubens!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Posted in auxesis
Tagged auxesis, climax, elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, hyperbole, incrementum, The Daily Trope
Eutrepismus (eu-tre-pis’-mus): Numbering and ordering the parts under consideration. A figure of division, and of ordering.
Talk about rhetoric often attempts to denigrate rhetoric. This is deeply ironic. That is, talk about rhetoric that advances a judgment of rhetoric is itself a rhetorical act! For example, we’ve all probably heard these two put-downs (or variations): (1) Stop the rhetoric and get to the reality; and (2) That’s just a lot of rhetoric.
Let’s take a closer look at the first put-down . . .
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in eutrepismus
Tagged elocutio, eutrepismus, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
Acrostic: When the first letters of successive lines are arranged either in alphabetical order (= abecedarian) or in such a way as to spell a word.
Too many ideas are floated in public without appropriate forethought.
Reckless assertion-making makes the future even more uncertain.
Useless information fogs and obscures the rhetorical landscape.
Time and time again I waste time rummaging for facts in the media clutter.
How many crazy, nutty, silly ways can
truth
be moved from the
center
to the
margin?
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in acrostic
Tagged abecedarian, acrostic, elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, The Daily 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]).
While noteworthy acts of great courage may shorten one’s life to a sweet unregretful end, noteworthy acts of great cowardice may lengthen one’s life to a bitter regretful end.
Definitions courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in antitheton
Tagged antithesis, antitheton, contraries, elocutio, example, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, regrets, rhetoric, rhetorical invention, The Daily Trope
Bdelygmia (del-ig’-mi-a): Expressing hatred and abhorrence of a person, word, or deed.
How I hate a cheater–the dissembler, the seducer, the subject of unwarranted praise: the perfect counterfeit of a perfect person!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in bdelygmia
Tagged bdelygmia, cheaters, elocutio, example, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, The Daily Trope, trope
Antistasis (an-ti’-sta-sis): The repetition of a word in a contrary sense. Often, simply synonymous with antanaclasis.
It’s better to order your finances than to order more stuff on the Internet!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in antistasis
Tagged antanaclasis, antistasis, elocutio, example, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, The Daily Trope, trope
Anapodoton (an’-a-po’-do-ton): A figure in which a main clause is suggested by the introduction of a subordinate clause, but that main clause never occurs.
Anapodoton is a kind of anacoluthon, since grammatical expectations are interrupted. If the expression trails off, leaving the subordinate clause incomplete, this is sometimes more specifically called anantapodoton. Anapodoton has also named what occurs when a main clause is omitted because the speaker interrupts himself/herself to revise the thought, leaving the initial clause grammatically unresolved but making use of it nonetheless by recasting its content into a new, grammatically complete sentence.
If you think Iowa killed my chances to make it all the way–if you think my one loss is every other candidate’s gain–well let me remind you of a thing or two, or three, or four . . .
Or:
There are many ways to deal with global warming–I can’t imagine that anybody wants to see their coastlines flooded–let’s not let another year go by without joining the international community and devoting our fair share of resources to reasonable efforts–to developing and implementing plans and policies–that will heal our planet.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Posted in anapodoton
Tagged anacoluthon, anantapodoton, anapodoton, elocutio, example, figures of speech, global warming, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, The Daily Trope, trope
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