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!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in aganactesis
Tagged aganactesis, elocutio, example, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, public speaking, rhetoric, The Daily Trope, trope
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.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in mesarchia
Tagged dreams, elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, inspiration, leadership, mesarchia, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
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.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in epexegesis
Tagged elocutio, epexegesis, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, public speaking, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
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.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged elocutio, euphemismus, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, public speaking, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
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.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in colon
Tagged articulus, clause, colon, elocutio, example, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, isocolon, membrum, rhetoric, The Daily Trope, tricolon, trope
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.”
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in apothegm
Tagged adage, apothegm, elocutio, figures of speech, gnome, Gorgias's Weblog, maxim, paroemia, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
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.”
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in maxim
Tagged adage, apothegm, elocutio, figures of speech, gnome, Gorgias's Weblog, maxim, paroemia, proverb, public speaking, rhetoric, sententia, The Daily Trope
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.”
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in paroemia
Tagged adage, apothegm, elocutio, figures of speech, gnome, Gorgias's Weblog, maxim, proverb, public speaking, rhetoric, sententia, The Daily Trope
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.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in gnome
Tagged adage, apothegm, elocutio, figures of speech, gnome, Gorgias's Weblog, maxim, paroemia, proverb, public speaking, rhetoric, sententia, The Daily Trope
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])
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in proverb
Tagged adage, apothegm, elocutio, figures of speech, gnome, Gorgias's Weblog, maxim, paroemia, proverb, rhetoric, sententia, The Daily Trope
Ecphonesis (ec-pho-nee’-sis): An emotional exclamation.
Wow! What a beautiful day!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in ecphonesis
Tagged ecphonesis, elocutio, example, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, joy, public speaking, rhetoric, The Daily Trope, weather
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?
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in epergesis
Tagged appositio, apposition, elocutio, epergesis, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, public speaking, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
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.
Definitions courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in epicrisis
Tagged anamnesis, anecdote, chreia, elocutio, epicrisis, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, public speaking, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
Amphibologia (am’-fi-bo-lo’-gi-a): Ambiguity of grammatical structure, often occasioned by mispunctuation. [A vice of ambiguity.]
Barny fed his dog Eddie.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.
Posted in amphibolgia
Tagged ambiguity, amphibologia, elocutio, example, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, The Daily Trope, trope
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.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in dianoea
Tagged anthypophora, dianoea, elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
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!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in systrophe
Tagged elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, style, systrophe, The Daily Trope
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!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in ellipsis
Tagged ellipsis, elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, public speaking, style, The Daily Trope
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.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in mesozeugma
Tagged composition, elocutio, example, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, mesozeugma, public speaking, rhetoric, style, The Daily Trope, trope
Diasyrmus (di’-a-syrm-os): Rejecting an argument through ridiculous comparison.
Letting your kids roam the streets at night so they can “learn about life” is like putting herbicides on your garden to make it grow!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in diasyrmus
Tagged comparatio, composition, diasyrmus, elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, style, trope
Brachylogia (brach-y-lo’-gi-a): The absence of conjunctions between single words. Compare asyndeton. The effect of brachylogia is a broken, hurried delivery.
Love, hate, fear, joy, anger, pity, hope, guilt, disgust–all banging together in his pulsing head. He was flipping out! He needed more than a vacation–he needed a medical leave.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in brachylogia
Tagged asyndeton, brachylogia, composition, elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, public speaking, rhetoric, style, The Daily Trope
Merismus (mer-is’-mus): The dividing of a whole into its parts.
The USA is made up of states, counties, parishes, townships, towns, cities, neighborhoods & more–so much more!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Posted in merismus
Tagged composition, elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, merismus, rhetoric, style, The Daily Trope
The Daily Trope 