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.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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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:
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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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.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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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!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Paronomasia (pa-ro-no-ma’-si-a): Using words that sound alike but that differ in meaning (punning).
Buffet Rule: Just desserts.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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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.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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.)
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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Adynaton (a-dyn’-a-ton): A declaration of impossibility, usually in terms of an exaggerated comparison. Sometimes, the expression of the impossibility of expression.
Sure, he’s going to be elected President of the United States just like that bag of kitty litter is going to feed the hungry.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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