Paradox
A paradox is a statement or a theory that is self-contradictory in nature or leads to a contradiction without seeming to. For example – ‘I tell lies only to truthful people.’ Now, the speaker is telling a lie if he thinks the other person is a truthful person, but the speaker is telling the truth [...]
Parable
A parable is a short fictitious narration with the aim of delivering a moral, religious or philosophical message. Jesus of Nazreth, Parable of the Cave and the Sun in Plato’s Republic, Parable of the Good Samaritan are some of the examples of parable.
The word parable comes from Greek paraballo meaning to cast beside. The narrative [...]
Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is a word that uses the imitation of a sound, thus hinting at its origin. Examples – meow (cat), beep (alarm), slam (door), croak (frog), pop (balloon) etc.
The word onomatopoeia originated from Greek onomatopoiia meaning to create.
Examples of Onomatopoeia
Quack [...]
Neologism
A neologism is a word or phrase that has been newly created or ‘coined’. The word neologism comes from French néologisme meaning new word. A change in the meaning of an existing word is also called neologism. For example: gay meant happy in the 19th century, but now it means a homosexual.
There has been a [...]
Malapropism
Malapropism is substituting a word with an incorrect one with a similar sound for comic effect. Malapropism is unintentional on the part of the speaker and arises out of the speaker’s limited vocabulary or confusion of words due to their similar sound.
The word malaprop comes from French mal à propos meaning inappropriate. But malapropism [...]
Double Negative
When two negations are used in a sentence, then it is called double negative. In some languages and dialects, double negative is used to emphasize the positive while in others it is used to enforce the negative.
Double negative leading to a positive (Litotes)
Negative + Negative = Positive
For example: Your work is not bad. (Your work [...]
Apostrophe (figure of speech)
When a speaker breaks his impassioned dialogue with another person and starts addressing a non-living, abstract thing like death, wind, heavens etc. then it’s called apostrophe. In classics, the break mostly started with the letter O.
Apostrophe comes from Greek apostrophé meaning turning away. In apostrophe, the speaker turns away his dialogue from a living person [...]
Aphorism
Aphorism is a general truth or a deep observation expressed in a concise manner. The word aphorism comes from Greek aphorismos meaning to define.
Examples of aphorism
Children should be seen, not heard.
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
Better to say silent and be thought a fool than to open [...]
Hysteron proteron/Preposterous
Hysteron Proteron (latter first) is a rhetorical device in which the more prominent word or concept comes before the less important one. For example – The thunder and the lightening dipped my spirits or Put on your shoes and socks.
Everybody knows that lightening comes before thunder, and you put on socks before shoes, but sometimes [...]
Innuendo
An innuendo is a hint or a veiled pointer at a person or a thing. It is used to insult, humiliate, accuse, make fun of or as a cover for sexual talk. Taken literally, an innuendo seems totally harmless. The use of an innuendo is always intentional. For example – He bit hard on the [...]
Antonomasia
Antonomasia (an-to-no-maz-ya) is giving a proper name to something that has qualities associated with that name. For example – a philanderer can also be called Don Juan. Even the reverse of this, that is, using an epithet or a phrase for a proper noun, is also called Antonomasia. For example – ‘the little corporal’ instead [...]
Meiosis
Meiosis is a figure of speech in which a speaker intentionally understates something in order to lessen the effect of its largeness or acuteness. It is the opposite of auxesis. Meiosis comes from Greek meioo meaning to make smaller or lessening.
Examples of meiosis
He is a rhymester. (for a poet)
Shakespeare was a playwright of some genius.
Auxesis
Auxesis (og-zee-sis) is a kind of hyperbole in which a thing is exaggerated to produce an amplified effect. The word Auxesis in Greek means growth. Auxesis is mainly used for nouns unlike a hyperbole, which can be used in anything for emphasis. It is the opposite of meiosis.
Hyperbole – His hands created America.
Auxesis – This [...]
Anthimeria
When a word turns revolutionary and leaves its proper place in grammar to join another group, you call it Anthimeria. Mostly a noun jumps places to become a verb. it is called ‘verbing of noun’.
Examples of Anthimeria
It’s time we should all have a good sing.
Don’t worry. I’m mapping our progress.
Oh no, she will architect her [...]
Anacoenosis
Anacoenosis (an-uh-si-noh-sis) is a writing technique in which a character speaks directly to an audience to know their opinion on an issue that interests both the sides.
Anacoenosis comes from Greek anakoinoun meaning to communicate. In writing, the communication is mostly to a crowd which is not directly a part of the story.
Example of anacoenosis in [...]
