Definitions of Terms
Repetition of words with no others between, for vehemence or emphasis.
From the Gk. epi, "upon" and zeugnunai, "to yoke"
What is EPIZEUXIS?
The omission of conjunctions between clauses, often resulting in a hurried rhythm or vehement effect.
From Gk. sundeton “bound together with”
What is ASYNDETON?
This term is used for rhetorical exaggeration, sometimes to mock and sometimes to express impact.
What is HYPERBOLE?
“You’re damned if you do; you’re damned if you don’t.”
What is ANAPHORA?
“People on the go go for Coke.”
What is ANTANACLASIS?
Turning one's speech from one audience to another, to an abstraction, to an inanimate object, or to the absent.
From Gk. apo “away from” and strephein “to turn”
What is APOSTROPHE?
Employing many conjunctions between clauses, often slowing the tempo or rhythm.
From Gk. poly- “many” and syndeton “bound together with”
What is POLYSYNDETON?
This term is used for deliberate understatement, usually for humorous effect.
What is LITOTES?
“War is not fought to achieve joy but to avoid pain.”
What is ANTITHESIS?
“The taste of victory was in the lead relay runner’s mouth.”
What is CATACHRESIS?
Departure from normal word order for the sake of emphasis.
From Gk. ana “back again” and strephein “to turn, a turning back”
What is ANASTROPHE?
Substitution of one part of speech for another (such as a noun used as a verb).
From Gk. anti- “instead of” and mereia “a part”
What is ANTHIMERIA?
This term is used in an ironic way when you pretend NOT to talk about what you are saying you AREN'T talking about...
What is PARALIPSIS?
“My annoying sister never seems to sense that she is.”
What is ELLIPSIS?
“Juan is a loyal friend, a diligent student, a true role model.”
What is PARALELLISM?
Reference to abstractions or inanimate objects as though they had human qualities or abilities. Personification.
From Gk. prosopon, "face," "person" and poiein, "to make"
What is PROSOPOPOEIA?
A series of similarly structured elements having the same length. A kind of parallelism.
From Gk. isos, "equal" and kolon, "member"
What is ISOCOLON?
This term is a form of exaggerated irony when you really emphasize, in extreme detail, what you are NOT talking about AS you are talking about it...
What is PROSELEPSIS?
“As rivals, they lovingly despised one another.”
What is OXYMORON?
“...and I want the best, we need the best, and we deserve the best.”
What is EPISTROPHE?
Repetition of the same word or clause after intervening matter; at the end of a line, phrase, or clause of the word or words that occurred at the beginning of the same line, phrase, or clause.
From Gk. ep, "in addition," ana, "again,"and lepsis, "a taking"
What is EPANALEPSIS?
Repetition of words, in successive clauses, in reverse grammatical order.
From the Gk. anti “in opposite direction” and metabole “turning about”
What is ANTIMETABOLE?
This term, historically, describes words that are meant to metaphorically tear into someone's flesh as they hear the bitter words spoken...
What is SARCASMUS?
“I watch, she watches, but who is watching the watchmen?”
What is POLYPTOTON?
“When I scold my students I never have to raise either my voice or my hopes.”
What is SYLLEPSIS?