§641. Grammatical Terms

Rhetorical Figures

Allegory: a narrative in which abstract ideas figure as circumstances, events, or persons, in order to enforce some moral truth.

Alliteration: the use of several words that begin with the same sound.

Analogy: argument from resemblances.

Anaphora: the repetition of a word at the beginning of successive clauses (§ 598. f).

Antithesis: opposition, or contrast of parts (for emphasis: § 598. f).

Antonomasia: use of a proper for a common noun, or the reverse:—

• sint Maecēnātēs, nōn deerunt, Flacce, Marōnēs, so there be patrons (like Mæcenas), poets (like Virgil) will not be lacking, Flaccus (Mart. 8.56.5).
• illa furia et pestis, that fury and plague (i.e. Clodius); Homēromastīx, scourge of Homer (i.e. Zoilus).

Aposiopesis: an abrupt pause for rhetorical effect.

Catachresis: a harsh metaphor ( abūsiō, misuse of words).

Chiasmus: a reversing of the order of words in corresponding pairs of phrases (§ 598. f).

Climax: a gradual increase of emphasis, or enlargement of meaning.

Euphemism: the mild expression of a painful or repulsive idea:—

• sī quid eī acciderit, if anything happens to him (i.e. if he dies).

Euphony: the choice of words for their agreeable sound.

Hyperbaton: violation of the usual order of words.

Hyperbole: exaggeration for rhetorical effect.

Irony: the use of words which naturally convey a sense contrary to what is meant.

Litotes: the affirming of a thing by denying its contrary (§ 326. c).

Metaphor: the figurative use of words, indicating an object by some resemblance.

Metonymy: the use of the name of one thing to indicate some kindred thing

Onomatopœia: a fitting of sound to sense in the use of words.

Oxymoron: the use of contradictory words in the same phrase:—

• īnsāniēns sapientia, foolish wisdom.

Paronomasia: the use of words of like sound.

Prosopopœia: personification.

Simile: a figurative comparison (usually introduced by like, or as).

Synchysis: the interlocked order (§ 598. h).

Synecdoche: the use of the name of a part for the whole, or the reverse.