Terms : Hide Images
| 7046100216 | parallelism | similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses ex. He tried to make the law clear, precise, and equitable. | 0 | |
| 7046100217 | isocolon | parallel elements are similar not only in grammatical structure, but also in length ex. His purpose was to impress the ignorant, to perplex the dubious, and to confound the scrupulous. | 1 | |
| 7046100218 | antithesis | the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas, often in parallel structure -- may be in words or ideas or both ex. Though studious, he was popular, though argumentative, he was modest... | 2 | |
| 7046100219 | anastrophe | inversion of the natural or usual word order; can emphasize a point or can sound awkward; draws special attention to the phrase ex. Backward run the sentences, till reels the mind. | 3 | |
| 7046100220 | parenthesis | insertion of some verbal unit in a position that interrupts the normal syntactical flow of the sentence ex. But wherein any man is bold—I am speaking foolishly—I also am bold... | 4 | |
| 7046100221 | apposition | two coordinate elements placed side-by-side -- the second of which serves as an explanation or modification of the first (using interuppting appositive phrase) ex. John Morgan, the president of the Sons of the Republic, could not be reached by phone. | 5 | |
| 7046100222 | ellipsis | deliberate omission of a word or of words which are readily implied by the context ex. And he to England shall along with you. | 6 | |
| 7046100223 | asyndeton | omission of conjunctions between a series of related clauses -- to produce a hurried rhythm in the sentence ex. I came, I saw, I conquered. | 7 | |
| 7046100224 | polysyndeton | opposite of asyndeton: deliberate use of many conjunctions -- slow down the rhythm of the sentence ex. This semester I am taking English and history and biology and mathematics and sociology. | 8 | |
| 7046100225 | alliteration | repetition of initial or medial consonants in two or more adjacent words ex. Tart, tingling, and even ticklish. | 9 | |
| 7046100226 | assonance | the repetition of similar vowel sounds, preceded and followed by different consonants, in the stressed syllables of adjacent words ex. Through pUblic scorn—mUd from a mUddy spring... | 10 | |
| 7046100227 | anaphora | repetition of the same word or groups of words at the beginnings of successive clauses; produces strong emotional effect, especially in speech; establishes marked change in rhythm ex. The Lord sitteth above the water floods. The Lord remaineth a King forever. The Lord shall give strength unto his people. | 11 | |
| 7046100228 | epistrophe | repetition of the same word or group of words at the end of successive clauses; produces strong rhythm and emphasis ex. I'll have my bond! Speak not against my bond! I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond! | 12 | |
| 7046100229 | epanalepsis | repetition at the end of the clause that occurred at the beginning of the clause; can produce strong emotion ex. Blood hath brought blood, and blows have answered blows: Strength match with strength, and power confronted power. | 13 | |
| 7046100230 | anadiplosis | repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause ex. Labor and care are rewarded with success, success produces confidence, confidence relaxes industry, and negligence ruins the reputation which diligence had raised. | 14 | |
| 7046100231 | climax (periodic sentence) | arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in an order of increasing importance ex. Renounce my love, my life, myself—and you. | 15 | |
| 7046100232 | antimetabole | repetition of words, in successive clauses, in reverse grammatical order (same words switch places) ex. One should eat to live, not live to eat. | 16 | |
| 7046100233 | chiasmus | reversal of grammatical structure in successive phrases or clauses; does not involve a repetition of words (different words switch places) ex. By day the frolic, and the dance by night. | 17 | |
| 7046100234 | polyptoton | repetition of words derived from the same root ex. The Greeks are strong, and skillful to their strength. (strong and strength) | 18 | |
| 7046100236 | metaphor | implied comparison between two things of unlike nature ex. Abigail is a wolf. | 19 | |
| 7046100237 | simile | explicit comparison between two things of unlike nature using "like" or "as". ex. She ran like the wind. | 20 | |
| 7046100238 | synecdoche | a figure of speech—a part stands for the whole ex. bread for food hands for helpers steel for sword | 21 | |
| 7046100239 | metonymy | substitution of some attributive or suggestive word for what is actually meant ex. crown for royalty bottle for wine pen for writer | 22 | |
| 7046100240 | antanaclasis | repetition of a word in two different senses ex. But lest I should be condemned of introducing license, when I oppose licensing. | 23 | |
| 7046242316 | pun | generic name for figures that make a play on words (antanaclasis, paranomasia, syllepsis) | 24 | |
| 7046100241 | paronomasia | use of words alike in sound, but different in meaning ex. ...Nwame Khrumah had been ostrichized, accused of being the biggest cheetah in Ghana, but safaris anyone knew, no fowl play was involved. | 25 | |
| 7046100242 | syllepsis | use of a word understood differently in relation to two or more other words, which it modifies or governs ex. There is a certain type of woman who'd rather press grapes than clothes. | 26 | |
| 7046122760 | zeugma | one word does not fit grammatically or idiomatically with one member of the pair ex. He maintained a flourishing business and racehorse. | 27 | |
| 7046100243 | anthimeria | the substitution of one part of speech for another ex. The thunder would not peace at my bidding. | 28 | |
| 7046100244 | periphrasis | substitution of a descriptive word or phrase for a proper name or a proper name for a quality associated with the name ex. They do not escape Jim Crow; they merely encounter another, not less deadly variety. | 29 | |
| 7046100245 | personification (prosopoeia) | investing abstractions of inanimate objects with human qualities or abilities ex. He glanced at the dew-covered grass, and it winked back at him. | 30 | |
| 7046128997 | apostrophe | addressing an absent person or a personified abstraction ex. O eloquent, just and mighty Death! | 31 | |
| 7046100246 | hyperbole | the use of exaggerated terms for the purpose of emphasis or heightened effect ex. My left leg weighs three tons. | 32 | |
| 7046100247 | litotes | deliberate use of understatement and double negative ex. To write is, indeed, no unpleasing employment. | 33 | |
| 7046100248 | rhetorical question | asking a question, not for the purpose of eliciting an answer, but for the purpose of asserting or denying something obliquely | 34 | |
| 7046100249 | irony | use of a word in such a way as to convey a meaning opposite to the literal meaning of the word ex. For Brutus is an honourable man; So are they all, honourable men. | 35 | |
| 7046132153 | sarcasm | witty language used to convey insults or scorn ex. Ugliness is in a way superior to beauty because it lasts. | 36 | |
| 7046100250 | onomatopoeia | use of words whose sound echoes the senses of the word ex. buzz boom | 37 | |
| 7046100251 | oxymoron | the yoking of two terms which are ordinarily contradictory ex. O miserable abundance, O beggarly riches! | 38 | |
| 7046100252 | paradox | an apparently contradictory statement that nevertheless contains a measure of truth ex. I was a coward. I went to the war. | 39 |
