Tag Archives: The Daily Trope

Consonance

Posted on November 20, 2010 | Leave a comment

Consonance: The repetition of consonants in words stressed in the same place (but whose vowels differ). Also, a kind of inverted alliteration, in which final consonants, rather than initial or medial ones, repeat in nearby words. Consonance is more properly a term associated with modern poetics than with historical rhetorical terminology.

The Dead Head said, “Bed plus bad equals bead. Wow, like that’s consonance man.”

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

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Adianoeta

Posted on November 16, 2010 | Leave a comment

Adianoeta: An expression that, in addition to an obvious meaning, carries a second, subtle meaning (often at variance with the ostensible meaning).

During and after my angioplasty she touched my heart in so many ways! I never thought I’d fall in love with a surgeon!

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

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Congeries

Posted on September 29, 2010 | Leave a comment

Congeries (con’-ger-eez): Piling up words of differing meaning but for a similar emotional effect [(akin to climax)].

Your proposal is unrealistic, dangerous, insulting, immoral, and muddled.  In short, it’s ready for the shredder.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.

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Alleotheta

Posted on September 23, 2010 | Leave a comment

Alleotheta (al-le-o-the’-ta): Substitution of one case, gender, mood, number, tense, or person for another. Synonymous with enallage. [Some rhetoricians claim that alleotheta is a] general category that includes antiptosis [(a type of enallage in which one grammatical case is substituted for another)] and all forms of enallage [(the substitution of grammatically different but semantically equivalent constructions)].

Tomorrow you are leaving. Tomorrow, you are gone.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.

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Conduplicatio

Posted on September 22, 2010 | Leave a comment

Conduplicatio (con-du-pli-ca’-ti-o): The repetition of a word or words. A general term for repetition sometimes carrying the more specific meaning of repetition of words in adjacent phrases or clauses. Sometimes used to name either ploce or epizeuxis.

If one knows the truth, one does not have to like the truth. What’s the difference between liking the truth and knowing the truth?  Maybe it’s the difference between freedom and necessity–to be sure one may love a lie (and lying too) & that’s the truth!

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

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Epiplexis

Posted on September 14, 2010 | 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 [–the speaker does not expect an answer].

Yes, it was an accident, but I was driving. I was behind the wheel. Why did we have to go to the store right then? An hour later & she’d still be alive. How am I going to live with this? Can I ever forgive myself? Can I ever forget? How do I turn off the regret and remorse and get on with my life?

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.

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Asteismus

Posted on August 26, 2010 | Leave a comment

Asteismus (as-te-is’-mus): Polite or genteel mockery. More specifically, a figure of reply in which the answerer catches a certain word and throws it back to the first speaker with an unexpected twist. Less frequently, a witty use of allegory or comparison, such as when a literal and an allegorical meaning are both implied.

Marlin: When are you going to give me a break?

Pat: When you break out of your slump and give me something to shout out about! You can do it!

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

 

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Paromologia

Posted on July 3, 2010 | Leave a comment

Paromologia (par-o-mo-lo’-gi-a): Conceding an argument, either jestingly and contemptuously, or to prove a more important point.  A synonym for concessio.

Yes–you’re absolutely right.  It’s true. I was mistaken. I was mistaken to think that you’re a decent human being! That mistake has been corrected and now it’s time for me to move on. Goodbye.

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

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Diaskeue

Posted on June 27, 2010 | Leave a comment

Diaskeue (di-as-keu’-ee): Graphic peristasis (description of circumstances) intended to arouse the emotions.

I had just climbed into bed after a long flight from Taiwan to New York. It was about 10:00 a.m.  I was exhausted. I heard a loud thud on my bedroom window–like someone had thrown a soft object at it with a lot of force. I pulled up the blinds and saw a small hole in the screen with a greasy stain smeared on the glass behind it. Lying dead on the grass was a beautiful little sparrow hawk–perfectly still–its neck twisted too far to the side–broken by its collision with the window.

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

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Pysma

Posted on June 26, 2010 | Leave a comment

Pysma (pys’-ma): The asking of multiple questions successively (which would together require a complex reply). A rhetorical use of the question.

Shouldn’t the G-20 be meeting in Las Vegas or Atlantic City as a tribute to the rationale of its decision making? What will the G-8’s next game of chance be? Chuck-a-Lucky Euro? Wheel of BP-Sterling? Dicing for Dollars? Global Lotto? What’s the motto? “We bet your life”?

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

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Diazeugma

Posted on May 22, 2010 | 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.

The stock market’s triple digit dip freaked out the 401K crowd, panicked the portfolio managers, and sent shockwaves across the world’s financial markets.

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

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Synechdoche

Posted on May 14, 2010 | Leave a comment

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 need a new ballpoint. This one’s out of ink.

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

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Abating

Posted on March 7, 2010 | Leave a comment

Abating: English term for anesis: adding a concluding sentence that diminishes the effect of what has been said previously. The opposite of epitasis (the addition of a concluding sentence that merely emphasizes what has already been stated. A kind of amplification).

Your new house is beautiful! Too bad it’s right next to the freeway.

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

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Anacoloutha

Posted on May 27, 2009 | Leave a comment

Anacoloutha (an-a-co’-lu-tha): Substituting one word with another whose meaning is very close to the original, but in a non-reciprocal fashion; that is, one could not use the first, original word as a substitute for the second. This is the opposite of acoloutha.

Rising sun rips the night; jagged day, jags of light.

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

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Assonance

Posted on May 16, 2009 | Leave a comment

Assonance (ass’-o-nance): Repetition of similar vowel sounds, preceded and followed by different consonants, in the stressed syllables of adjacent words.

The new parking restrictions are a cue to everyone who knows how crowded the village green can be on Saturday mornings in summer and fall: a two-block walk from a side street will keep people away. Who wants to lug a couple of turnips, twelve ears of corn, and a torn bag of tomatoes two blocks back to their car? Not me. Can’t you see how this will hurt the local produce farmers?

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

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Symploce

Posted on April 29, 2009 | Leave a comment

Symploce (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.

Today we celebrate the hope that is honored and fulfilled by our being gathered here. Today is also a compelling reminder of what is not here.

The future.

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

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Epitasis

Posted on March 30, 2009 | Leave a comment

Epitasis (e-pit’-a-sis): The addition of a concluding sentence that merely emphasizes what has already been stated. A kind of amplification. Opposite of anesis.

I just got back to the U.S.A.  Home at last!

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

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Antanaclasis

Posted on January 8, 2009 | Leave a comment

Antanaclasis (an’-ta-na-cla’-sis): The repetition of a word or phrase whose meaning changes in the second instance.

When your yacht  leaked, you bailed it out. When your business failed, you bailed out.

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

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Apocope

Posted on January 7, 2009 | Leave a comment

Apocope (a-pok’-o-pe): Omitting a letter or syllable at the end of a word. A kind of metaplasm.

Are you havin a laugh?

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

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Hypallage

Posted on December 17, 2008 | Leave a comment

Hypallage (hy-pal’-la-ge): Shifting the application of words. Mixing the order of which words should correspond with which others. Also, sometimes, a synonym for metonymy (see Quintilian).

Birds do not bark. Dogs do not tweet. Cows do not croak. Frogs do not moo. Stop trying to prove yourself by doing what you can’t do.

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

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Epitasis

Posted on December 7, 2008 | Leave a comment

Epitasis (e-pit’-a-sis): The addition of a concluding sentence that merely emphasizes what has already been stated. A kind of amplification. Opposite of anesis.

I did not mean to hurt you. Not even the slighest bit.

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

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Antirrhesis

Posted on November 27, 2008 | Leave a comment

Antirrhesis (an-tir-rhee’-sis): Rejecting reprehensively the opinion or authority of someone.

I reject your point of view–it’s based on the belief that people cannot be trusted to govern themselves.  If people cannot be trusted to govern themselves, who is going to govern them? Cows? Caterpillars? Coyotes? Hoot owls? Earthworms? How can we trust a person who claims that people can’t be trusted? Certainly, I don’t trust you–not because you’re a person, but because you’re a fool.

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

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Acervatio

Posted on September 24, 2008 | Leave a comment

Acervatio (ak-er-va’-ti-o): Latin term Quintilian employs for both asyndeton (acervatio dissoluta: a loose heap) and polysyndeton (acervatio iuncta: a conjoined heap).

Asyndeton: the omission of conjunctions between clauses, often resulting in a hurried rhythm or vehement effect.

We practice, we play, we win, we lose, we love it! That’s it. That’s our game plan. Let’s go!

Polysydeton: employing many conjunctions between clauses, often slowing the tempo or rhythm.

You told me you were my friend, and you let me believe you were going to help me, and you kept me thinking everything was going to be all right, and then you walked out the door, and you didn’t leave a trace, and all my dreams were shattered; and now you’re asking me to forgive you and welcome you back like nothing happened at all? Get out!

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

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Abbaser

Posted on September 13, 2008 | Leave a comment

Abbaser: [George] Puttenham’s English term for tapinosis. Also equivalent to meiosis: reference to something with a name disproportionately lesser than its nature (a kind of litotes: deliberate understatement, especially when expressing a thought by denying its opposite).

New York–a little town on a little island in a river.

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Definitions courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.

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Abating

Posted on September 7, 2008 | Leave a comment

Abating: English term for anesis: adding a concluding sentence that diminishes the effect of what has been said previously. The opposite of epitasis (the addition of a concluding sentence that merely emphasizes what has already been stated. A kind of amplification).

His new job is great, but it keeps him away from his family and friends.

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

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