Appositio (ap-po-sit’-i-o): Addition of an adjacent, coordinate, explanatory or descriptive element.
My new computer, the fastest desktop ever made, has a footprint that’s smaller than a shoebox and a 10-tetrabyte hard drive!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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Tricolon (tri-co’-lon): Three parallel elements of the same length occurring together in a series.
My wife. My life. My love!
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.
Zealous temperance is moderation’s vice.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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.
If you get a tattoo, your your father will have a heart attack and your mother will cut your arm off!
Definitions courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.
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Anthimeria (an-thi-mer’-i-a): Substitution of one part of speech for another (such as a noun used as a verb [or a verb used as a noun]).
I’m baseballed to the max! Are you ready for some football?
Or:
I had a good compute with my calculator!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.
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Polysyndeton (pol-y-syn’-de-ton): Employing many conjunctions between clauses, often slowing the tempo or rhythm. (Asyndeton is the opposite of polysyndeton: an absence of conjunctions.)
Over four years ago we held hearings, and we were shown evidence, and we deliberated, and a decision was made, and we went to war. And recently, we held more hearings and evidence was shown, and we deliberated, and again, a decision was made. And so, the war continues.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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Tagged asyndeton, elocutio, figures of speech, polysyndeton, rhetoric, style, The Daily Trope
Adage (ad’-age): One of several terms describing short, pithy sayings, or traditional expressions of conventional wisdom. [Others include apothegm, gnome, maxim, paroemia, proverb, sententia, and anamnesis {a related figure}]
No pain, no gain.
Or:
“Do not remove a fly from your friend’s forehead with a hatchet.” (The Quotations Page)
Defintion courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.
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Tagged adage, anamnesis, apothegm, elocutio, figures of speech, gnome, Gorgias's Weblog, maxim, paroemia, proverb, rhetoric, sententia, style, The Daily Trope
Adnominatio (ad-no-mi-na’-ti-o): 1. A synonym for paronomasia [punning]. 2. A synonym for polyptoton. 3. Assigning to a proper name its literal or homophonic meaning.
Senator Boxer is no boxer, she’s a wrestler!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.
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Polyptoton (po-lyl-to’-ton): Repeating a word, but in a different form. Using a cognate of a given word in close proximity.
Recklessly driving drivers shouldn’t drive!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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Tagged elocutio, figures of speech, polyptoton, rhetoric, style
Aphorismus ( a-phor-is’-mus): Calling into question the proper use of a word.
I follow my conscience. I tell the truth. I make no false promises. How can they call me a demagogue?
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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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.)
1. Wide Stance was back in the news again last week!
2. When it comes to national health care policies, that candidate’s not exactly a Hillary.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Tagged elocutio, figures of speech, periphrasis, rhetoric, style
Epizeugma (ep-i-zoog’-ma): Placing the verb that holds together the entire sentence (made up of multiple parts that depend upon that verb) either at the very beginning or the very ending of that sentence.
Go to each and every day with hope and love. You owe it to yourself.
To each and every day, with hope and love go. You owe it to yourself.
Or:
Drove I my rusty old truck.
My rusty old truck I drove.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Hypozeuxis (hyp-o-zook’-sis): Opposite of zeugma. Every clause has its own verb.
The driver sipped coffee, the passengers yacked, and the van rolled on through the night.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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Prozeugma (pro-zoog’-ma): A series of clauses in which the verb employed in the first is elided (and thus implied) in the others.
Honesty engenders trust. Courage, loyalty. Foresight, prudence.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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.
The extended heat wave overtaxed the power supply, made the outside air nearly unbreathable, and forced large numbers of people to seek relief in the air-conditioned shopping mall.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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.
Without reason, you press ahead. Without compassion, you press ahead. Without prudence, you press ahead. When will you stop? When will it end? When will you come to your senses?
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Isocolon (i-so-co’-lon): A series of similarly structured elements having the same length. A kind of parallelism.
The past. The present. The future. Then. Now. Later. Later is later than you think!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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.).
The wind answered my question with gusty clarity–its chilling voice moving every leaf and every branch on every swaying tree: “Yes, the season is changing. Now, see the leaves fly! Now, see the geese fly! Today, I tell you, I am a harbinger. Behold, I bring you fall!”
Definitions courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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Tagged elocutio, ethopoeia, figures of speech, personification, prosopopoeia, rhetoric, style
Diacope (di-a’-co-pee): Repetition of a word with one or more between, usually to express deep feeling.
Two lousy points! Why do we always lose? Why can’t we ever win? Two lousy points! I quit!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Apostrophe (a-pos’-tro-phe): Turning one’s speech from one audience to another. Most often, apostrophe occurs when one addresses oneself to an abstraction, to an inanimate object, or to the absent.
Well Mom, although you’re gone, I know you’re up there watching me–I promised you I would finish college some day, and today, I did. Thanks Mom, and thanks to all the other people in my life–from my wonderful daughter and amazing wife to the professors I had who took the time, and cared enough about me, to help me change, and even possibly save, my life.
And now, after giving thanks, it’s time ask “What’s Next?” “What am I going to do with the rest of my life?” “What are we going to do with the rest of our lives?”
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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Apophasis (a-pof’-a-sis): The rejection of several reasons why a thing should or should not be done and affirming a single one, considered most valid.
When he told her she had to sit at the back of the bus, she could have simply complied; but compliance with injustice perpetuates it. When he told her she had to sit at the back of the bus, she could have stepped off the bus and walked away; but walking away from evil leaves it lashing at those who remain. So, she held her place–she held her seat. And abiding in a higher law that’s written in all of our hearts, she faced wickedness with resistance–with courage and dignity. And on that day she showed us what it takes to deliver ourselves from tyranny.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
Synecdoche (si-nek’-do-kee): A whole is represented by naming one of its parts (or genus named for species), or vice versa (or species named for genus).
I got some new heels–check them out: sterling silver buckles, emerald suede–Prada, Prada, Prada all the way!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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