Rhetorical Devices Flashcards
Terms and definitions from http://phrontistery.info/rhetoric.html (158 cards)
1
Q
acatalectic
A
having complete or full number of syllables in a poetic line
2
Q
accismus
A
in rhetoric, pretending to refuse something
3
Q
adynaton
A
rhetorical use of a nearly impossible situation for emphasis
4
Q
agnomination
A
rhetorical use of similar-sounding words for effect
5
Q
alogism
A
illogical statement
6
Q
anacoenosis
A
rhetorical questioning of hearers or opponents for opinions on a matter
7
Q
anacoluthon
A
moving to new topic of discussion before finishing current one
8
Q
anadiplosis
A
repeating last word of clause at beginning of next clause
9
Q
analepsis
A
repetition of a word or phrase for emphasis; pleonasm
10
Q
anaphora
A
repetition of a word at beginning of successive phrases for emphasis
11
Q
anastrophe
A
reversing or inverting word order as rhetorical device
12
Q
antanaclasis
A
repetition of key word of phrase as a play on words
13
Q
anthypophora
A
refuting an objection using a contrary inference
14
Q
anticlimax
A
expression whose last part is decreased in effect from the prior part
15
Q
antimetabole
A
figure in which words or phrases are repeated but in inverse order
16
Q
antimetathesis
A
inversion of the parts of an antithesis
17
Q
antiphrasis
A
use of words in a sense opposite to literal
18
Q
antistrophe
A
repetition of words in reverse order
19
Q
antistrophon
A
turning of opponent’s own argument against them
20
Q
antithesis
A
contrast of ideas by means of parallel arrangement of words or clauses
21
Q
antonomasia
A
use of descriptive phrase or epithet instead of proper name
22
Q
aparithmesis
A
rhetorical answer to a proposition
23
Q
apodosis
A
main concluding clause in a conditional sentence
24
Q
apophasis
A
saying something by stating that you will not mention it
25
aposiopesis
suddenly stopping in the middle of a speech for emphasis
26
apostrophe
addressing of a personified thing rhetorically
27
asteism
refined irony
28
asyndeton
rhetorical device of omitting conjunctions
29
atticism
expression characterized by conciseness and elegance
30
auxesis
increase in size; hyperbole or augmentation of meaning
31
bathos
appearance of the commonplace in elevated matter for rhetorical effect
32
catastasis
introductory part of speech where narrator introduces subject
33
chiasmus
contrast by parallelism in reverse order
34
climax
gradual increase in force of rhetorical expressions or drama of a performance
35
consecution
logical sequence or progression of an argument
36
diacope
hetorical separation of a compound word by a third word; tmesis
37
diallage
device in which many arguments brought upon one point
38
diallelus
circular argument
39
dialogism
rhetorical discussion in form of an imaginary dialogue
40
diaporesis
rhetorical expression of uncertainty of which of two options to adopt
41
diasyrm
rhetorical device of condemning through faint praise
42
diatyposis
rhetorically vivid and clear description of a subject
43
dicaeology
defending oneself in argument by claiming justification
44
dilemma
in rhetoric, forcing a choice between two equally unfavourable choices
45
dilogy
intentional ambiguousness
46
dinumeration
numbering of rhetorical points one by one
47
ecbole
digression
48
echolalia
echo-like repetition of another's words
49
echopraxia
echo-like repetition of another's actions
50
ecphasis
explicit declaration or interpretation
51
ecphonesis
rhetorical exclamation
52
ecphrasis
plain interpretation of a thing
53
ekphrasis
description of a work of art as rhetorical exercise
54
enantiosis
ironic expression of idea by refuting its contrary
55
enthymeme
rhetorical suppression or omission of a premise
56
epanadiplosis
sentence which begins and ends with same word
57
epanalepsis
repetition
58
epanaphora
repetition of same word at beginning of multiple phrases or sentences
59
epanastrophe
device where end of one sentence is repeated as beginning of next
60
epanodos
recapitulation of chief points in a discourse after digression
61
epanorthosis
retraction of statement in order to intensify it
62
epexegesis
addition of words to make the sense more clear
63
epibole
device of beginning several clauses with same word
64
epilogue
rhetorical conclusion or summary
65
epiphonema
exclamation, finishing phrase or reflection
66
epiphora
rhetorical repetition of a word at the end of several sentences
67
epiplexis
persuasion through stylized but severe criticism of opponent
68
epiploce
use of multiple entwined points in succession in an argument
69
epistrophe
ending of successive clauses with the same word
70
epitrope
rhetorical but ironic granting of permission to an opponent to do something
71
epizeuxis
immediate repetition of a word for emphasis
72
erotesis
rhetorical questioning
73
ethopoeia
delineation of the character of someone or something
74
euphemism
rhetorical use of a pleasant or favourable form in place of a harsh one
75
exergasia
remaining on one point of argument while gradually fleshing it out
76
gemination
doubling of a consonant sound; in rhetoric, repetition of a word or phrase
77
hendiadys
expression of adjective and noun as two adjectives
78
heterosis
use of one form of a noun or pronoun in place of another for rhetorical effect
79
homeoteleuton
the use or occurrence of similar word endings
80
homoeoptoton
use of series of words sharing the same verb or noun inflections
81
hypallage
figure in which relations between words are changed
82
hyperbaton
rhetorical device in which word order is reversed
83
hyperbole
impression by extravagant exaggeration
84
hypercatalectic
having an extra syllable on the end of a line of verse
85
hypobole
anticipating and refuting objections to an argument
86
hypophora
statement of an opponent's probable but as yet unstated objection
87
hypostrophe
return to primary argument after digression
88
hypotyposis
vivid description of a scene
89
hysteron
proteron in rhetoric, putting first what normally comes last
90
ischiorrhogic
of an iambic line, having spondees in the second, fourth or sixth place
91
lemma
preliminary proposition, theme, argument or headword
92
litotes
understatement by affirming using negation of the contrary
93
macrology
much talk with little to say; redundancy; pleonasm
94
meiosis
understatement of size or importance for rhetorical effect
95
merism
rhetorical device of contrasting two parts of a whole
96
mesozeugma
placement of a word referring to two different clauses between them
97
metabasis
transition; transfer; in rhetoric, movement from one topic to another
98
metalepsis
metonymy of a double or indirect kind
99
metaphor
figurative transfer of qualities from one object or event to another
100
metaphrase
turning of prose into verse or vice versa
101
metastasis
removal from one place to another; rapid transition in argument
102
metonymy
figurative use of word to name an attribute of its subject
103
mimesis
rhetorical imitation of another's words or mannerisms
104
mycterism
sneering; rhetorical sarcasm or irony
105
noema
stating something obscurely, forcing listeners to work it out
106
oxymoron
figure of speech combining contradictory terms
107
palillogy
repetition of a word or word or phrase
108
parabola
rhetorical use of simile or metaphor
109
paradiastole
description of an unfavourable quality through a favourable synonym
110
paradigma
rhetorical comparison by resemblance to another thing
111
paraenesis
rhetorical expression of advice or warning
112
paragram
play on words in which letters are changed
113
paralipsis
fixing attention on subject by pretending to neglect it
114
paranomasia
rhetorical art of punning
115
parathesis
apposition; compounding of words without change
116
parecbasis
rhetorical digression or deviation from expected topic
117
paregmenon
repetition of a word or its cognates in a series of words
118
parembole
insertion of something related to the subject into a phrase
119
paremptosis
insertion of something related to the subject into a phrase
120
parison
even balance of elements in a sentence
121
paroemia
proverb or adage used in argumentation
122
paromoion
starting statement with several words starting with the same letter
123
paromologia
partial admission of opponent's argument to strengthen one's final position
124
parrhesia
asking forgiveness in advance for frank or bold speech
125
pathopoeia
excitation of passion by rhetoric or poetry
126
periergia
use of elevated style to discuss a trivial matter
127
periphrasis
circumlocution; round-about expression
128
perissology
verbiage; pleonasm
129
pleonasm
redundancy; use of more words than necessary
130
ploce
repetition of word in more expressive sense for emphasis
131
polyptoton
repetition of word in same sentence with multiple inflectional endings
132
polysyndeton
rhetorical device of repeating conjunction for emphasis
133
preterition
passing over or omission; drawing attention to a thing by claiming to omit it
134
procatalepsis
anticipating and answering an opponent's objections
135
prolepsis
anticipation; device where objections are anticipated
136
pronomination
description of a thing by its qualities rather than its proper name
137
prosopopoeia
personification; representation of absent person as speaking
138
protasis
first clause in a conditional expression; introductory part of a play
139
prothysteron
putting last what normally comes first in an expression or argument
140
protozeugma
zeugma in which word referring to two clauses is placed before both of them
141
schesis
deriding opponent's argument by referring to his way of thought
142
simile
comparison of two things
143
sorites
string of statements where end of one is subject of next
144
superjection
exaggeration; hyperbole
145
syllepsis
figure where word related to two others differently
146
syllogism
argument in which two premises lead to a logical conclusion
147
symploce
repetition of word at start of one and end of next clause
148
synchoresis
concession made for the sake of more effective retort
149
synchysis
confusion of meaning due to unusual arrangement
150
syncrisis
comparison of diverse or contradictory things
151
syndeton
phrase whose parts are joined by a conjunction
152
synecdoche
part used to refer to whole or vice versa
153
synoeciosis
rhetorical figure of coupling opposites
154
tapinosis
use of degrading or diminutive diction regarding a topic
155
tmesis
separation of word into parts by an intervening word
156
trope
any figure of speech; figurative language
157
tuism
apostrophe; reference to or regard to a second person
158
zeugma
use of a word to modify two or more words in different ways
