Tag Archives: rhetoric

Diazeugma

Posted on February 18, 2013 | Leave a comment

Diazeugma (di-a-zoog’-ma): The figure by which a single subject governs several verbs or verbal constructions (usually arranged in parallel fashion and expressing a similar idea); the opposite of zeugma.

I couldn’t get to sleep because my report wasn’t finished, my psycho neighbor was playing with his musical clapper, the handgun my mother had given me was missing, and worst of all, my Sleep Number bed’s 5-part fully adjustable electric frame was stuck at 9–AKA spine bending speed bump.

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

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Epitrope

Posted on February 15, 2013 | Leave a comment

Epitrope (e-pi’-tro-pe): A figure in which one turns things over to one’s hearers, either pathetically, ironically, or in such a way as to suggest a proof of something without having to state it. Epitrope often takes the form of granting permission (hence its Latin name, permissio), submitting something for consideration, or simply referring to the abilities of the audience to supply the meaning that the speaker passes over (hence Puttenham’s term, figure of reference). Epitrope can be either biting in its irony, or flattering in its deference.

A specific form of epitrope is the (apparent) admission of what is wrong in order to carry our point.

Take your time–go ahead, obey the speed limit! It can’t matter that much. I’ll have the baby right here on the front seat.  It’s better than a hospital. I won’t die. You won’t be sorry, and our baby won’t suffer! Why don’t you just slow down a little bit more–there’s no rush.

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

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Dendographia

Posted on February 13, 2013 | Leave a comment

Dendographia (den-dro-graf’-ia): Creating an illusion of reality through vivid description of a tree.

Trees! Tall trees. Small trees. All trees. Dark bark maybe grey, birch bark black and white; day and night with leaves–leaves hanging by their thread-thin stems feeding light to sap, and in the sunny breeze of dawn’s mortal moment they swarm like clouds of butterflies waving winged shadows over tangled bumpy stumpy roots reaching deep beneath the soddy earth. The smell of pine. The womb of woods. The trees!

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

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Isocolon

Posted on February 12, 2013 | Leave a comment

Isocolon (i-so-co’-lon): A series of similarly structured elements having the same length. A kind of parallelism.

I drove. I parked. I shopped. I dropped.

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

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Scesis Onomaton

Posted on February 7, 2013 | Leave a comment

Scesis Onomaton (ske’-sis o-no’-ma-ton): 1. A sentence constructed only of nouns and adjectives (typically in a regular pattern).  2. A series of successive, synonymous expressions.

1. Wild nights, bleary mornings, sunburned days. Spring break !

2. I have your best interests close to my heart. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you. The sky’s the limit. Just ask.

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

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Symploce

Posted on February 6, 2013 | Leave a comment

Symploce (sim’-plo-see or sim’-plo-kee): The combination of anaphora and epistrophe: beginning a series of lines, clauses, or sentences with the same word or phrase while simultaneously repeating a different word or phrase at the end of each element in this series.

We never know what the future will bring. We never know what a promise will bring. We never know and yet we must travel on, not knowing, but hoping  for what only hope will bring.

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

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Polyptoton

Posted on February 5, 2013 | Leave a comment

Polyptoton (po-lyp-to’-ton): Repeating a word, but in a different form. Using a cognate of a given word in close proximity.

Lovers love loving and being loved.

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

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Epistrophe

Posted on February 3, 2013 | Leave a comment

Epistrophe (e-pis’-tro-fee): Ending a series of lines, phrases, clauses, or sentences with the same word or words.

It’s cold today. The bills are due today. I’ve got to do my laundry today. My cat is driving me nuts today. Why can’t tomorrow be today, today?

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

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Bomphiologia

Posted on January 16, 2013 | Leave a comment

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

I am the stars in your sky, the hope in your heart, and the love of your life.   What more could you ask for, baby?

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

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Tapinosis

Posted on January 13, 2013 | Leave a comment

Tapinosis (ta-pi-no’-sis): Giving a name to something which diminishes it in importance.

The so-called “fiscal cliff” is actually a fiscal curb. If we go over the fiscal curb, we’ll drive off the road to prosperity.

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

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Epimone

Posted on December 5, 2012 | Leave a comment

Epimone (e-pi’-mo-nee): Persistent repetition of the same plea in much the same words.

The PAC wants to go over Lemming Cliff!

We need your help! The PAC is depending on you! Come to the meeting! Show up! Be there! Tonight!

Be a good little rodent and follow the PAC over Lemming Cliff!

Do it for the PAC!

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

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Anesis

Posted on December 2, 2012 | Leave a comment

Anesis (an’-e-sis): Adding a concluding sentence that diminishes the effect of what has been said previously. The opposite of epitasis.

My little doggy is cute, affectionate, and obedient.  That said, he smells like a polluted mud flat at low tide on a hot afternoon.

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

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Anthimeria

Posted on November 23, 2012 | Leave a comment

Anthimeria (an-thi-mer’-i-a): Substitution of one part of speech for another (such as a noun used as a verb).

Are you going Black Fridaying today?

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

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Charientismus

Posted on October 23, 2012 | Leave a comment

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

Another Big Whopper! All bun and no meat! Don’t you have anything else to dish up to the American people? Now that you’ve stuffed them with big empty whoppers for the past three months, don’t you think they’re just about fed up?

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

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Epitrope

Posted on October 10, 2012 | Leave a comment

Epitrope (e-pi’-tro-pe): A figure in which one turns things over to one’s hearers, either pathetically, ironically, or in such a way as to suggest a proof of something without having to state it. Epitrope often takes the form of granting permission (hence its Latin name, permissio), submitting something for consideration, or simply referring to the abilities of the audience to supply the meaning that the speaker passes over (hence Puttenham’s term, figure of reference). Epitrope can be either biting in its irony, or flattering in its deference.

A specific form of epitrope is the (apparent) admission of what is wrong in order to carry your point.

Go ahead and vote for Mr. Romney if you want to!  If you want to send Big Bird to the ostrich farm, if you want Elmo to talk like George Bush, if you want amphibians to be banned from having relationships with pigs, go ahead, vote for Mr.Romney. He’s got a heart of gold.

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

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Antimetabole

Posted on September 26, 2012 | Leave a comment

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

Sow and harvest. Harvest and sow. If you sow the seed of love, and cultivate it,  you may harvest  joy and feed your soul. When your joy is nearly all exhausted, it’s time to sow the seed of love again, and cultivate it, and help it grow.  Nurtured by the joy produced, you sow the seed of love again, and cultivate it, and harvest joy, and start all over again! Love and joy. Joy and love. You may harvest what you need from  the seed you sow.

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

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Epanorthosis

Posted on September 13, 2012 | Leave a comment

Epanorthosis (ep-an-or-tho’-sis): Amending a first thought by altering it to make it stronger or more vehement.

Trying to understand what’s going on in the world by consuming social media is like trying to cross a busy intersection while you’re spinning around in circles! No–it’s WORSE than that! It’s like running into a burning building to save your life!

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

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Traductio

Posted on July 29, 2012 | Leave a comment

Traductio (tra-duk’-ti-o): Repeating the same word variously throughout a sentence or thought. Some authorities restrict traductio further to mean repeating the same word but with a different meaning (see ploce, antanaclasis, and diaphora), or in a different form (=polyptoton. . . . ). If the repeated word occurs in parallel fashion at the beginnings of phrases or clauses, it becomes anaphora; at the endings of phrases or clauses, epistrophe.

Hope for rain and hope will reign even if it doesn’t rain!

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

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Ominatio

Posted on July 28, 2012 | Leave a comment

Ominatio (o-mi-na’-ti-o): A prophecy of evil.

When the party who is to blame places the blame on those who are blameless;

When the party who is to blame willingly fails to cooperate to remedy the harm they themselves have caused;

When the party who is to blame wantonly induces and perpetuates the peoples’ painful suffering, ironically, for partisan political gain;

Then, they thwart the Peoples’ Pursuit of Happiness and dishonor Liberty’s name.

Surely, when the party who is to blame will rise to great power, it shall come to pass that the Republic’s wounds will fester and will not heal;

Surely, when the party who is to blame will rise to great power, the world will recoil in horror–shocked and awed–by the party’s psychotic pursuit of The End of Time as the preordained purpose of its reign.

Beware the Day of Election!

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

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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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