Synzeugma (sin-zoog’-ma): That kind of zeugma in which a verb joins (and governs) two phrases by coming between them. A synonym for mesozeugma.
Either with luck, hope is realized, or with hard work.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Tagged elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, mesozeugma, rhetoric, style, synzeugma, The Daily Trope
Graecismus (gree-kis’-mus): Using Greek words, examples, or grammatical structures. Sometimes considered an affectation of erudition.
There’s a kairos for everything.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Tagged elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, graecismus, rhetoric, style, The Daily Trope
Exouthenismos (ex-ou-then-is’-mos): An expression of contempt.
You are a stain.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Tagged elocutio, exouthenismos, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, style, The Daily Trope
Epilogus (e-pi-lo’-gus): Providing an inference of what is likely to follow.
They will not live happily ever after. They will be hunted, caught, tried, convicted, and punished. That will be their fate. That is their future. The end.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Tagged elocutio, epilogus, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, style, The Daily Trope
Distinctio (dis-tinc’-ti-o): Eliminating ambiguity surrounding a word by explicitly specifying each of its distinct meanings.
This “bar” is not a bar of soap, candy, or silver. This bar isn’t named Joe’s Place. It isn’t a tool to pry things loose. It isn’t made of sand. This bar is where we bring our disputes and settle them in accord with principles of justice!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Tagged distinctio, elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, style, The Daily Trope
Anastrophe (an-as’-tro-phee): Departure from normal word order for the sake of emphasis. Anastrophe is most often a synonym for hyperbaton, but is occasionally referred to as a more specific instance of hyperbaton: the changing of the position of only a single word.
Perfect, nobody is.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Tagged anastrophe, elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, hyperbaton, rhetoric, style, The Daily Trope
Ratiocinatio (ra’-ti-o-cin-a’-ti-o): Reasoning (typically with oneself) by asking questions. Sometimes equivalent to anthypophora. More specifically, ratiocinatio can mean making statements, then asking the reason (ratio) for such an affirmation, then answering oneself. In this latter sense ratiocinatio is closely related to aetiologia. [As a questioning strategy, it is also related to erotima {the general term for a rhetorical question}.]
We must buy a more fuel efficient car–maybe a hybrid. Why? Gasoline prices are are rising every week. I’m paying nearly $500 per month just to drive to and from work. Even if fuel prices go down, we’ll still be ahead of the game. No matter what, saving fuel is a good thing.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.
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Tagged aetiologia, anthypophora, elocutio, erotema, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, ratiocinatio, rhetoric, style, The Daily Trope
Dicaeologia (di-kay-o-lo’-gi-a): Admitting what’s charged against one, but excusing it by necessity.
A: I got your message. One more promise broken. One more weekend blown off!
B: I’m sorry. Yes, it’s true–one more promise broken. I should’ve told you in my message why I can’t come up. I have poison ivy all over my legs. They’re coated with lotion and they’re so swollen that I can’t drive. In fact, I can hardly walk. I really don’t have a choice about coming up. How about next weekend? I hope the poison ivy will be gone by then.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Tagged dicaeologia, elocutio, example, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, poison ivy, rhetoric, style, The Daily Trope
Diaporesis: Deliberating with oneself as though in doubt over some matter; asking oneself (or rhetorically asking one’s hearers) what is the best or appropriate way to approach something [=aporia].
Many people are asking: “What does Helen want?” Well, Helen wants to know: should she stay or should she go? Come on! I really want to know! Should she stay or should she go?
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.
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Tagged aporia, diaporesis, elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, style, The Daily Trope
Articulus (ar-tic’-u-lus): Roughly equivalent to “phrase” in English, except that the emphasis is on joining several phrases (or words) successively without any conjunctions (in which case articulus is simply synonymous with the Greek term asyndeton). See also brachylogia.
Articulus 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 the slower speed of concatenated membra (see membrum) to the quicker speed possible via articulus.
My yard is big, gigantic, huge! I need some sheep to keep it clipped.
Definition and commentary courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Tagged articulus, asyndeton, brachylogia, elocutio, example, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, membrum, rhetoric, style, The Daily Trope, trope
Commoratio (kom-mor-a’-ti-o): Dwelling on or returning to one’s strongest argument. Latin equivalent for epimone.
Again, he has nothing new to say. His idea of change is changing places in the same old conversation with the same old partner and the same old content. The only change that takes place is whose turn it is to say the same old things–the conversation does not change. Well, it’s time to interrupt that conversation and take it in a new direction. It’s time to take our turn. It’s time to change the conversation. It’s time for a real change.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Tagged commoratio, elocutio, epimone, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
Repotia (re-po’-ti-a): 1. The repetition of a phrase with slight differences in style, diction, tone, etc. 2. A discourse celebrating a wedding feast.
1. A. Love’s constancy is the closest thing to Truth that we’ll ever experience here on earth. Here’s to you. For love!
1. B. Love’s constancy guides us like Truth through this jumble of uncertainty called life. Love takes us home. Welcome home! For you! For love!
2. Weddings celebrate and publicize life’s most important promise. Weddings are front-page news–at their best, they boldly headline love’s expectation of lasting passionate goodness that bridges our days and nights together, as together we grow together and go hopefully together into the unknowable unforeseeable future. So, as we participate in this joyful occasion together–as we dance, sing, laugh, drink, eat and talk, let’s never forget this day’s design and carry its memory with us to gauge the beauty and the truth of all of the relationships that we create together, that we maintain together, that we celebrate together.
To love and marriage!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in repotia
Tagged elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, repotia, rhetoric, style, The Daily Trope
Periergia (pe-ri-er’-gi-a): Overuse of words or figures of speech. As such, it may simply be considered synonymous with macrologia. However, as Puttenham’s term suggests, periergia may differ from simple superfluity in that the language appears over-labored.
The previously considered prior point (i.e., the point-before-the-last point) would utilize its aspects in conjuction with their connection with what came after them subsequently.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Tagged elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, periergia, rhetoric, style, The Daily Trope
Catachresis (kat-a-kree’-sis): The use of a word in a context that differs from its proper application. This figure is generally considered a vice; however, Quintilian defends its use as a way by which one adapts existing terms to applications where a proper term does not exist.
The blizzard poured buckets of snow.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Tagged catachresis, elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
Affirmatio (af’-fir-ma’-ti-o): A general figure of emphasis that describes when one states something as though it had been in dispute or in answer to a question, though it has not been.
It’s true that he’s ahead in the popular vote. It’s true that he has more delegates committed to his nomination. Yes indeed, he appears to be winning. Why would anybody ask?
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Tagged affirmatio, elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
Synthesis (sin’-the-sis): An apt arrangement of a composition, especially regarding the sounds of adjoining syllables and words.
What a wonderful way to while away the day. Walking along the Bahamian beach–warm waves washing across my feet. I came here from the snow, and now I know why we fly from nearly anywhere to get here–where the days fade into nights, the weather is just right, my cell phone’s gone dead, and what’s right here, right now, fills my head with the promise of another day away.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Tagged elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, synthesis, The Daily Trope
Restrictio (re-strik’-ti-o): Making an exception to a previously made statement. Restricting or limiting what has already been said.
This is the greatest place in the world–with the exception of our cabin in the woods!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Tagged elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, restrictio, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
Proecthesis (pro-ek’-the-sis): When, in conclusion, a justifying reason is provided.
I must go now–my family needs me.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in proecthesis
Tagged elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, proecthesis, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
Period: The periodic sentence, characterized by the suspension of the completion of sense until its end. This has been more possible and favored in Greek and Latin, languages already favoring the end position for the verb, but has been approximated in uninflected languages such as English. [This figure may also engender surprise or suspense–consequences of what Kenneth Burke views as ‘appeals’ of information.]
All you good people who are and aren’t our friends, who move through life uninterrupted by guilt and shame, with open hearts and and eyes wide open, affecting charity at every turn, we praise you.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text inserted by Gorgias.
Posted in period
Tagged elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, period, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
Dehortatio (de-hor-ta’-ti-o): Dissuasion.
You have a future. It is quite clear: debt, dissolution, disaster. Stop abusing your credit card. Stop abusing your body. Slow down. Pull over. Seek help. Call home.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Tagged dehortatio, elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
Assumptio (as-sump’-ti’o): The introduction of a point to be considered, especially an extraneous argument. See proslepsis (When paralipsis [stating and drawing attention to something in the very act of pretending to pass it over] is taken to its extreme. The speaker provides full details.).
Let’s not even consider the political significance of the candidates’ clothing choices. After all, choices are only choices, and what the candidates choose to wear is beside the point, right? Take John McCain for example . . .
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in assumptio
Tagged assumptio, elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, paralipsis, proslepsis, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
Eustathia (yoos-tay’-thi-a): Promising constancy in purpose and affection.
I promise you my love is true–always everywhere the same–immutable–unchanging–absolute.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in eustathia
Tagged elocutio, eustathia, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, The Daily Trope
Tasis (ta’-sis): Sustaining the pronunciation of a word or phrase because of its pleasant sound. A figure apparent in delivery.
The vicissitudes of life–these vicissitudes–these mutable, contingent, humbling challenges that ebb and flow and come and go as every day turns, and night returns, and waking falls to sleep: the refuge and haven from the vicissitudes of life.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
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Tagged elocutio, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, rhetoric, tasis, The Daily Trope
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.
A day without at least one mistake is a day that is a mistake.
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).
Posted in traductio
Tagged anaphora, antanaclasis, diaphora, elocutio, epistrophe, figures of speech, Gorgias's Weblog, ploce, polyptoton, rhetoric, The Daily Trope, traductio
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