Terms : Hide Images
| 3517277892 | Ad Hominem Argument | From the Latin meaning "to or against the man," this is an argument that appeals to emotion rather than reason, to feeling rather than intellect. | 0 | |
| 3517283831 | Dialogue | A conversation between two or more people, particularly within a novel, play, poem, short story, or other literary work. | 1 | |
| 3517287421 | Idiom | A grammatical construction unique to a certain people, region or class that cannot be translated literally into another language. | 2 | |
| 3517293207 | Antecedent | The word, phrase or clause referred to by a pronoun | 3 | |
| 3517296139 | Narrative | The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events. | 4 | |
| 3517299431 | Personification | A figure of speech in which the author presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions. | 5 | |
| 3517305564 | Satire | A work that targets human vices and follies, or social institutions and conventions, for reform or ridicule. Regardless of purpose, satire is best seen as a style of writing. Satire may be recognized by the devices used by the satirist, including irony, wit, parody, caricature, hyperbole, understatement, and sarcasm. Good satire is often humorous but also thought provoking and insightful about the human condition. | 6 | |
| 3517327006 | Caricature | A representation, especially pictorial or literary, in which the subject's distinctive features or peculiarities are deliberately exaggerated to produce a comic or grotesque effect (often accompanied by the oversimplification of other features). Sometimes caricature can be so exaggerate that it becomes a misrepresentation. Synonymous words include parody, satire, lampoon, travesty, and burlesque. | 7 | |
| 3517347994 | Didactic | From the Greek meaning "instructive," didactic works have the primary goal of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical people. | 8 | |
| 3517354732 | Invective | An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language. | 9 | |
| 3517358622 | Tone | The author's attitude toward his or her material, the audience, or both. Tone is easier to determine in spoken language than in written language. Considering how a work would sound if read aloud can help in identifying an author's tone. An author's tone in a piece is not typically described by one word; it is generally more complex than that. Some words describing tone are humorous, serious, formal, ominous, playful, or businesslike. | 10 | |
| 3517374255 | Clause | A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb. An independent, or main, clause expresses a complete thought and can stand as a sentence. A dependent, or subordinate, clause cannot stand alone as a sentence and must be accompanied by an independent clause. | 11 | |
| 3517391315 | Anecdote | A brief account of a single incident. | 12 | |
| 3517392621 | Topic Sentence | A sentence, most often appearing at the beginning of a paragraph, that provides the paragraph's idea and typically unites it with the work's thesis. | 13 | |
| 3517399278 | Euphemism | A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for generally unpleasant words or phrases. The euphemism may be used to adhere to standards of social or political correctness, or to add humor or ironic understatement. | 14 | |
| 3517408916 | Inference/infer | To draw a reasonable deduction or conclusion from specific information presented. | 15 | |
| 3517412461 | Pedantic | An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish. | 16 | |
| 3517418913 | Apostrophe | A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. The effect may add familiarity or emotional intensity. | 17 | |
| 3517429082 | Syntax | The way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses and sentences. Think of syntax as referring to groups of words, while diction refers to individual words. When examining syntax, consider elements such as the length or brevity of sentences, unusual sentence constructions, the sentence patterns used, and the kinds of sentences the author uses. The writer may use questions, declarations, exclamations, or rhetorical questions; sentences are also classified as periodic or loose, simple, compound, or complex sentences. When examining a sentence, first consider the kind of construction, and then consider the effect of the arrangement has on the creation of meaning. In other words, why does the sentence work well for the author's purpose? | 18 | |
| 3517463938 | Loose sentence | A type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses. A work containing many loose sentences often seems informal, relaxed, and conversational. | 19 | |
| 3517472898 | Periodic sentence | A sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end. The independent clause is preceded by a phrase or clause that cannot stand alone. The effect of a periodic sentence is generally to add emphasis and variety. | 20 | |
| 3517483305 | Genre | The major category into which a literary work fits. The basic divisions of literature are prose, poetry, and drama. "Genre" is a flexible term, though. Within the broad categories, subdivisions may exist that are often also called genres, For example, prose might be divided into fiction (novels and short stories) or nonfiction (essays, biographies). | 21 | |
| 3517506928 | Denotation | The strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color. | 22 | |
| 3517518050 | Connotation | The nonliteral, associative meaning of a word; the implied suggested meaning. Connotations may involve ideas, emotions or attitudes. | 23 | |
| 3517532803 | Ambiguity | The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence or passage. | 24 | |
| 3529185748 | Non Sequitor | From a Latin phrase meaning "it does not follow," this refers to a conclusion (or inference) that does not logically derive from its premise. | 25 | |
| 3529198002 | Jargon | This is the special language of a certain group or profession, such as psychological jargon, legal jargon, or medical jargon. If excerpted from its proper subject area, jargon may become confusing or humorous. | 26 | |
| 3529209399 | Transition | A word or phrase that links different ideas. Transitions effectively signal a shift from one idea to another. A few commonly used transitional words or phrases are "furthermore," "consequently," "nevertheless," "for example," "in addition," "likewise," "similarly," or "on the contrary." | 27 | |
| 3529229609 | Irony | The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant; the difference between what appears to be and what actually is true. Irony is used for many reasons, but frequently, it is used to create humor or poignancy (something distressing, painful, or cutting). Typically, three major types of irony are used in language. | 28 | |
| 3529247463 | Verbal Irony | The words literally state the opposite of the writer or speaker's true meaning | 29 | |
| 3529251150 | Situational Irony | Events turn out the opposite of what was expected. What the characters and readers think ought to happen does not actually happen. | 30 | |
| 3529258056 | Dramatic Irony | Facts or events are unknown to a character in a play or piece of fiction but known to the reader, audience, or other characters in the work. | 31 | |
| 3529267807 | Homily | This term literally means "sermon," but more informally it can include any serious talk, speech or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice. | 32 | |
| 3529276069 | Repetition | The duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern. When repetition is poorly done, it bores; when it's well done, it links and emphasized ideas while also allowing the reader the comfort of recognizing something familiar. | 33 | |
| 3529292155 | Allusion | A direct or indirect reference to something that is presumably commonly well known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art. Allusions may be historical, literary, religious, or mythical, etc. | 34 | |
| 3529311709 | Thesis or thesis statement | The principal focus of an essay, the thesis is the sentence or group of sentences that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or proposition. Expository writing is usually judged by how accurately, effectively, and thoroughly a writer has proven the thesis. | 35 | |
| 3529330089 | Rhetoric | A term describing the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively. | 36 | |
| 3529343124 | Rhetorical Question | A question that is merely for effect and does not expect a reply. The answer is assumed. | 37 | |
| 3529350228 | Aphorism | A terse statement of known authorship that expresses a general truth or moral principle. An aphorism can be a memorable summation of the author's point. Many credit Hippocrates with the first aphorism, "Life is short, art is long, opportunity fleeting, experimentation dangerous, reasoning difficult..." | 38 | |
| 3529379515 | Coloquialism | Slang or informality in speech or writing. Not generally acceptable for formal writing, colloquialisms give work a conversational, familiar tone. Colloquial expressions in writing include local or regional dialects. | 39 | |
| 3529408094 | Hyperbole | A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. Hyperboles frequently have a comic effect, but a serious effect is also possible. | 40 | |
| 3529420089 | Metonymy | Metonymy is a figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it. For example, a news report may state, "the White House declared," rather than, "the president declared." | 41 | |
| 3530236552 | Wit | Wit refers to intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights. A witty statement is humorous, while also suggesting the writer or speaker's ability to create clever and perceptive remarks. Wit usually uses terse language, making a pointed statement. | 42 | |
| 3530236553 | Dominant Impression | The principal effect the author wishes to create for the audience, particularly in descriptive writing. | 43 | |
| 3530236554 | Alliteration | The repetition of sands, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words (for example, "she sells seashells"). The repetition can reinforce meaning, unify ideas, and or supply a musical sound. | 44 | |
| 3530236555 | Imagery | The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions. Be aware of how an author creates imagery and the effect of that imagery. | 45 | |
| 3530236556 | Oxymoron | An oxymoron is a figure of speech where the writer groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox. Remember the simple example of jumbo shrimp. | 46 | |
| 3530236557 | Paradox | A statement that seems to be contradictory or opposed to common sense, but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity. | 47 | |
| 3530236558 | Point of view | The perspective from which a stony is told. There are two general divisions. The first-person nametor tells the stony with the first-person pronoun, "I," and is a character in the stony. The third-person narrator relates the events with the third-person pronouns, "he," "she," and "it." In the third-person omniscient point of view, all-knowing narrator presents the thoughts and actions of any or all characters. The third-person limited-omniscient point of new presents the thoughts and feelings of only one character, and only the actions of all remaining characters. | 48 | |
| 3530236559 | Allegory | The device of using character and or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. The allegorical meaning usually deals with moral truth or a generalization about human existence. | 49 | |
| 3530236560 | Mood | The prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work. Setting, tone, and events can affect the mood. Mood is similar to tone and atmosphere. | 50 | |
| 3530236561 | Sarcasm | From the Greek meaning "to tear flesh," sarcasm involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something. Sarcasm may involve irony, but not all ironic statements are sarcastic (intended to hurt or ridicule). | 51 | |
| 3530236562 | Theme | The central idea or message of a work, the insight it offers into life. Usually, theme is unstated in fictional works, but in nonfiction, the theme is often often directly stated, especially in expository writing. Frequently, a theme may be expressed as a "universal truth," a general statement about the human condition, about society, or about man's relation to the natural world. | 52 | |
| 3531445459 | Dialect | A speech pattern typical of a certain regional location, race, or social group that exhibits itself through unique word choice, pronunciation, or grammatical use. | 53 | |
| 3531445460 | Setting | Refers to the immediate environment of a narrative or descriptive piece of writing: the oace, the time, and the background established by the writer. | 54 | |
| 3531445461 | Stylistic Devices (resources of language) | All elements that contribute to style, such as diction, syntax, tone, attitude, figures of speech, connotation, and repetition. | 55 | |
| 3531445462 | Analogy | A similarity between the features of two things, on which a comparison may be based. An analogy can explain something unfamiliar by associating it with, or pointing out its similarity to, something more familiar (the analogy between the heart and a pump). Analogies can also make writing more vivid, imaginative, and intellectually engaging. | 56 | |
| 3531445463 | Hypothesis | A tentative theory that can be proved or disproved through further investigation and analysis. | 57 | |
| 3531445464 | Balanced sentence | A sentence made up of two parts that are roughly equal in length, importance, and grammatical structure. In a balanced style, there is a sense if objectivity, control, and proprtuon (but potentially also ad sense of convention and monotony). | 58 | |
| 3531445465 | Antithesis | Antithesis is a balanced sentence that involves a contradiction of ideas, words, clauses, or sentences. | 59 | |
| 3531445466 | Chiasmus | A pattern in which the second half of an expression is balanced against the first with the parts reversdd. The purpose is usually to make a larger point or to provide balance and order. (The root pattern is called chiasmus because when diagrammed it forms an X, and the Greek name for X is chi.) | 60 | |
| 3531445467 | Juxtaposition | Placing dissimilar items, descriptions, or ideas close together or side by side, especially for comparison or for contrast. | 61 | |
| 3531445468 | Parody | A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule. As comedy, parody distorts or exaggerates distinctive features of the original. As ridicule, it mimics the work by repeating and borrowing words, phrases, or characteristics in order to illuminate weakness in the original. | 62 | |
| 3531445469 | Subject complement | The word (with any accompanying phrases) or clause that following a linking verb and complements, or completes, the subject of the sentence by either 1) renaming it or 2) describing it. | 63 | |
| 3531445470 | Understatement | The ironic minimizing of fact, understatement presents something as less significant than it is. Understatement is the opposite of hyperbole. Understatement can frequently be humorous and emphatic. | 64 | |
| 3531445471 | Logical Fallacy | An incorrect conclusion derived from faulty reasoning. | 65 | |
| 3531445472 | Paraphrase | A restatement in your own words of someone else's ideas or observations. | 66 | |
| 3531445473 | Indirect quotation | An indirect quotation reports someone's words either quoting word for word. In indirect speech, the reporter is free to introduce information about the speech event from his point of view, as he does not claim to give the actual words that were spoken by the original speaker. | 67 | |
| 3531445474 | Anaphora | The repetition of a word of phrase at the beginning of successive clauses. Anaphora can create a strong emotional effect. | 68 | |
| 3531445475 | Refutation | The process of discrediting the arguments that run counter to your thesis statement. | 69 | |
| 3531445476 | Sentence structure | Simole, compound and complex sentences and the variations created with sentence combining; variation or lack of variation in sentence length; unusual construction such as repetition or inverted word order; and unusual word or phrase placement. | 70 | |
| 3531445477 | Syllogism (or syllogistic reasoning) | A deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises - the first one called "major" and the second "minor" - that inevitable leaf to a sound conclusion. A syllogism's conclusion is valid only if each of the two premises are valid. | 71 | |
| 3531445478 | Adjunct | (N) Something added to something else has helpful or useful but not essential; an assistant or helper; a valuable quality or characteristic; (adj) added or connected on a subordinate capacity; attached to a faculty or staff in an auxiliary capacity. | 72 | |
| 3531445479 | Bellwether | (N) the male sheep that leads the flock to the slaughterhouse; a leader, as in a desperate or violent undertaking; an indicator of trends. | 73 | |
| 3531445480 | Caterwaul | (V) to howl or screech like a cat; to quarrel (n) a harsh or noisy cry; a racket | 74 | |
| 3531445481 | Chimerical | (Adj) absurd; wildly fantastic; impossible | 75 | |
| 3531445482 | Effete | (Adj) lacking in wholesome vigor or energy; worn-out or exhausted; sterile or unable to produce; out-of-date | 76 | |
| 3544718466 | Fait Accompli | (N) an accomplished and presumably irreversible deed, fact, or action | 77 | |
| 3544718467 | Hide bound | (Adj) narrow-minded and rigid, especially in opinions or prejudices; stubbornly and unthinkingly conservative | 78 | |
| 3544718468 | Hierarchy | (N) any system of things or people arranged or graded one above another in order order of rank, wealth, class, etc. | 79 | |
| 3544718469 | Laissez-faire | (Adj) a philosophy or practice characterized by a usually deliberate abstention from direction or interference, especially with individual freedom of choice and action. | 80 | |
| 3544718470 | Liturgy | (n) a religious service or rite; the form of a ritual or other act of public worship | 81 | |
| 3544718471 | Morass | (n) a patch of low, soft, wet ground; a swamp; a confusing situation in which one is entrapped; as in quicksand | 82 | |
| 3544718472 | Noisome | (adj) offensive or disgusting; foul-smelling; harmful or injurious | 83 | |
| 3544718473 | Oblivious | (adj) forgetful; unaware | 84 | |
| 3544718474 | Poltroon | (n) a base coward | 85 | |
| 3544718475 | Proselyte | (n) a convert; a disciple | 86 | |
| 3544718476 | Quasi | (adj) resembling but not actually being; seemingly but not actually or completely | 87 | |
| 3544718477 | Raillery | (h) good-humored ridicule, teasing | 88 | |
| 3544718478 | Ribald | (adj) irreverently mcocking; coarse; vulgar, or indecent in language | 89 | |
| 3544718479 | Supine | (adjl lying flat On one's back; listless or lethargic; apathetic or passive | 90 | |
| 3544718480 | Vignette | (n) a short description or sketch; a picture or illustration with edges that gradually shade off; a decorative design on the title page of a book or at the beginning or end of a chapter | 91 | |
| 3544718481 | Aegis | (n) protection; patronage; sponsorship | 92 | |
| 3544718482 | Apprise | (v) to inform of, to make aware by giving oral or written notice | 93 | |
| 3544718483 | Bibulous | (adj) fond of or inclined to drink; absorbent | 94 | |
| 3544718484 | Claque | (n) a group of people hired to applaud a performer or performance; enthusiastic or fawning admirers; an opera hat | 95 | |
| 3544718485 | Deracinate | (v) to pull up by the roots; to root out, uproot, or dislocate; to eliminate all traces of | 96 | |
| 3544718486 | Exegesis | (n) an explanation or critical interpretation (especially of a text) | 97 | |
| 3544718487 | Indigenous | (adj) originating in the country or region where fund, native; inborn; inherent | 98 | |
| 3544718488 | Lachrymose | ladj) given to tears or weeping; causing to shed tears; mournful, lugubrious | 99 | |
| 3544718489 | Lexicon | (n) a dictionary of a language; the special vocabulary of a person, group, or subject; a compendium | 100 |
