Latin III RD

Alliteration

The repetition of the same initial consonant sounds in a sequence of words. (Latin: ad- "to" + littera "letter") Example: "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."

Anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses. (Greek: ana- "again" + phero "to carry") Example: "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds…"

Antithesis

Contrasting ideas presented in a parallel structure. (Greek: anti- "against" + thesis "placing") Example: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."

Assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words. (Latin: ad- "to" + sonare "to sound") Example: "The early bird catches the worm."

Asyndeton

Omission of conjunctions between words or phrases. (Greek: a- "without" + syndetos "bound together") Example: "I came, I saw, I conquered."

Chiasmus

Reversal of grammatical structures in successive phrases (ABBA structure). (Greek: chiasma "crossing") Example: "Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country."

Consonance

Repetition of consonant sounds, typically at the end or middle of words. (Latin: con- "with" + sonare "to sound") Example: "The lumpy, bumpy road."

Ellipsis

Omission of words that are understood in context. (Greek: elleipein "to fall short") Example: "She went to the mall, and he to the library."

Hyperbole

Exaggeration for emphasis or effect. (Greek: hyper- "over" + ballein "to throw") Example: "I’ve told you a million times."

Irony

Expression of meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite. (Greek: eironeia "dissimulation") Example: Saying “What a pleasant day!” during a storm.

Litotes

Understatement using double negatives or negation of the opposite. (Greek: litos "plain, simple") Example: "He’s not unfamiliar with danger."

Metaphor

A comparison between two unlike things without using "like" or "as." (Greek: meta- "beyond" + pherein "to carry") Example: "Time is a thief."

Metonymy

Substitution of a related term for the thing itself. (Greek: meta- "change" + onyma "name") Example: "The pen is mightier than the sword."

Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates a natural sound. (Greek: onoma "name" + poiein "to make") Example: "Buzz," "bang," "sizzle."

Oxymoron

A figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear together. (Greek: oxys "sharp" + moros "foolish") Example: "Deafening silence."

Personification

Giving human qualities to non-human things. (Latin: persona "mask, character") Example: "The wind whispered through the trees."

Polyptoton

Repetition of words derived from the same root. (Greek: poly- "many" + ptotos "fall/case") Example: "With eager feeding food doth choke the feeder."

Polysyndeton

Use of many conjunctions in close succession. (Greek: poly- "many" + syndetos "bound together") Example: "I laughed and talked and ate and played."

Rhetorical Question

A question asked for effect, not meant to be answered. (Greek: rhetor "orator") Example: "Isn’t it obvious?"

Simile

A comparison using 'like' or 'as.' (Latin: similis "like") Example: "Her smile was as bright as the sun."

Synchysis

An interlocked word order, typically ABAB pattern, often used in Latin poetry. (Greek: syn- "together" + chysis "pouring") Example: "Golden happy ring girl" (instead of "happy golden girl ring").

Syncope

The omission of a syllable or letter from the middle of a word. (Greek: synkopē, "cutting up") Example: "'Tis instead of 'It is" or "ne'er" for "never."

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part represents the whole or vice versa. (Greek: syn- "together" + ekdoche "interpretation") Example: "All hands on deck" (hands = sailors).

Tricolon

A series of three parallel words, phrases, or clauses. (Latin: tri- "three" + colon "clause") Example: "Veni, vidi, vici." or "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."