FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
36. Epanalepsis: Repetition of a word at the end of a clause
TROPES
Reference
1. Metaphor: Reference of one thing to imply another
2. Simile: Explicit comparison of two unlike things
3. Synecdoche: A part is used for a whole or a whole is used for
a part
4. Metonymy: Naming an object or concept to refer to another,
related object or concept
5. Personification: Referencing inanimate objects with
human-like qualities or abilities
Wordplay & Puns
6. Antanaclasis: Repetition of a word with two different
definitions
7. Paronomasia: Use of words similar in sound but different in
meaning (punning)
8. Syllepsis: Use of the same word differently to modify two or
more objects
9. Onomatopoeia: Forming a word to imitate a sound
Substitutions
10. Anthimeria: Substitution of one part of speech for another
11. Periphrasis: Circumlocution; use of a descriptive phrase or
proper noun to stand for qualities of the phrase or noun
Overstatement/Understatement
12. Hyperbole: Exaggeration for effect
13. Auxesis: Use of a term to describe something
disproportionately less significant than the term implies
14. Litotes: Deliberate understatement
15. Meiosis: Use of a term to describe something
disproportionately greater than the term implies
Inversions
16. Rhetorical Question: Asking a question for a purpose other
than to get an answer
I7. Irony: Use of terms to convey a meaning opposite of the
terms’ literal meaning
18. Oxymoron: Placing two opposing terms side by side
19. Paradox: Contradictory phrase that contains some measure
of truth
SCHEMES
Balance
20. Parallelism: Similarity in structure between words and
phrases
21. Antithesis: Juxtaposing two contradictory ideas
22. Climax: Ordering words and phrases in order of increasing
importance
Word Order
23. Anastrophe: Inversion of natural speaking word order
24. Parenthesis: Insertion of terms or phrases that interrupt
the natural syntactical flow
25. Apposition: Addition of words to clarify or elaborate what
came before
Omission/Inclusion
26. Ellipsis: Omission of words implied by context
27. Asyndeton: Omission of conjunctions between lauses
28. Brachylogia: Omission of conjunctions between a series of
words
29. Polysyndeton: An overabundance of conjunctions
Repetition
30. Alliteration: Repetition of consonants in two or more words
31. Assonance: Repetition of similar vowel sounds
32. Polyptoton: Repetition of words derived from the same
root
33. Antanaclasis: Repetition of a word used with more than
one meaning
34. Anaphora: Repetition of the same word or phrase at the
beginning of successive clauses
35. Epistrophe: Repetition of the same word or phrase at the
end of successive clauses
that was used at the beginning of th clause
37. Anadiplosis: Repetition of the last word of one clause at the
beginning of the following clause
38. Climax: Repetition of anadiplosis at least three times,
arranged so as to increase in importance each time
39. Antimetabole: Repetition of words in successive clauses,
but in reverse grammatical order
40. Chiasmus: Repetition of grammatical structures in reverse
order in successive phrases or clauses
MORE FIGURES OF SPEECH:
 Abbaser: See Tapinosis.
 Abusio: See Catachresis
 Acoloutha: Reciprocal substitution of words.
 Accismus: Feigned refusal of that which is desired.
 Accumulatio: Drawing points into a powerful climax.
 Acutezza: The use of wit or wordplay.
 Acyron: Using a word opposite to what is meant.
 Adianoeta: Expression that has second, subtle
meaning.
 Adjunction: Putting the verb at the beginning.
 Adynaton: Exaggerated declaration of impossibility.
 Asteismos: Polite expression of emotion.
 Aetiologia: A statement with a supporting cause.
 Affirmation: Speaking as if one's point is disputed.
 Aganactesis: Indignant exclamation.
 Allegory: Narrative using sustained metaphor.
 Alleotheta: Substituting one thing for another.
 Allusion: Indirect reference.
 Alliteration: Repetition of same initial sound.
 Ambage: See Periphrasis.
 Amphibology: Ambiguity in grammar.
 Amphilogy: Circumlocution to avoid harm to oneself.
 Ampliatio: Using a name where it is not defined.
 Amplificatio: General enhancement of an argument.
 Anabasis: Stepwise increase in emphasis.
 Anacephalaeosis: Summary of known facts.
 Anacoenosis: Asking opinion of audience to gain
agreement.
 Anacoloutha: Non-reciprocal word substitution.
 Anacoluthon: Ending a sentence different to
expectation.
 Anacrusis: Unstressed syllables at the start.
 Anadiplosis: Repeating last word at start of next
sentence.
 Analogy: A is like B. Using one thing to describe
another.
 Anamnesis: Emotional recall.
 Anangeon: Justification based on necessity.
 Anaphora: Repeating initial words.
 Anapodoton: Omitting clause for deliberate effect.
 Anastrophe: Changing normal word order.
 Anesis: Adding a conclusion that reduces what was
said.
 Antanaclasis: Repeating same word, with meaning
change.
 Antanagoge: Being positive about something negative.
 Anthimeria: Substituting one part of speech for
another.
 Antilogy: See Antanaclasis.
 Antimetabole: repeating clause, reversing word order.
 Anthypophora: Asking then answering your own
questions.
 Antiphrasis: Using words in contrary sense for irony.
 Antiptosis: Two logical, but contradicting, arguments.
 Antirhesis: Rejecting bad argument.
 Antisthecon: Replacing one word element.
 Antistrophe: Repeating the final word in successive
phrases.
 Antithesis: Contrasting with opposite.
 Antonomasia: Naming a person with other than their
given name.
 Apcope: Omitting letters from the end of a word.
 Aphaeresis: Omitting letters from the start of a word.
 Aphorismus: Questioning the meaning of a word.
 Apophasis: Talking about something without
mentioning it.
 Aporia: Feigned doubt.
 Aposiopesis: Not completing a sentence.
 Apostrophe: An 'aside', to others.
 Apposition: Layered meaning.
 Archaism: Using out-of-date language.
 Assonance: Repeating the same vowel sound.
 Asterismos: Adding a word to emphasize following
words.
 Asyndeton: Omitting conjunctions.
 Aureation: The use of fancy words.
 Autoclesis: introducing an item by refusing to discuss
it.
 Auxesis: Enhancement of importance.
 Bdelygmia: Expression of contempt or hatred.
 Bomphiologia: Bombastic, bragging speech.
 Brachyology: Condensed expression.
 Brevitas: Concise expression.
 Cacemphaton: Deliberately ill-sounding expression.
 Cacophony: Harsh combination of words.
 Catabasis: Steadily decreasing emphasis.
 Catachresis: Using words incorrectly.
 Cataphora: Using a word to refer to a word used later.
 Categoria: Directly exposing another's faults.
 Chiasmus: Two phrases, with reversal in second.
 Cledonism: Circumlocution to avoid saying unlucky
words.
 Climax: Words ordered in ascending power.
 Congeries: see Accumulatio.
 Consonance: Repeating consonant sounds.
 Correctio: Correction to revise meaning.
 Crasis: Contraction of two vowels into a longer sound.
 Diacope: Repeating word after one or two other
words.
 Diallage: Multiple arguments to establish a single
point.
 Distinctio: Describing something by saying what it is
not.
 Dubitatio: See Aporia.
 Dysphemism: Substituting a mild word with a stronger
one.
 Dysrhythmia: Breaking of a rhythmic pattern.
 Dystmesis: Inserting one word into the middle of
another.
 Ecphonesis: Short exclamation.
 Ellipsis: omission of words that would make a
sentence explicit.
 Enallage: Substituting one item for another.
 Enjambment: Breaking a phrase at an odd point.
 Enumeratio: Breaking down and detailing a subject.
 Epanalepsis: Repeating the same phrase at start and
end.
 Epanados: Repeating words in the reverse order.
 Epanorthosis: In-sentence correction.
 Epenthesis: Adding letters to the middle of a word.
 Epistrophe: Repetition of the same final word or
phrase.
 Epitrope: Conceding in order to gain.
 Epizeuxis: Repetition of a word with vehemence.
 Erotema: Rhetorical question.
 Ethopoeia: Putting oneself in the position of another.
 Euche: Expressing emotion through prayer.
 Euphemism: Substituting offensive words with gentle
ones.
 Eusystolism: Use of initials to avoid speaking harsh
words.
 Exemplum: Using examples (real or fictitious).
 Exergasia: Restating a point in different words.
 Extraposition: Putting a subject at a later position than
normal.
 Fictio: Attributing of human traits to creatures.
 Glossolalia: Fabricated, meaningless speech.
 Gradation: See Climax.
 Hendiadys: Two words, connected by conjunction.
 Heterosis: Changing the form of the verb.
 Homoioteleuton: similar endings in adjacent or
parallel words.
 Homophone: Different words that sound the same.
 Hypallage: Reversing syntactical relationship.
 Hyperbaton: Separating words that belong together.
 Hyperbole: Deliberate over-exaggeration.
 Hypocatastasis: Implied comparison.
 Hypocorism: Use of pet names, diminutives, baby talk.
 Hypophora: see Anthypophora.
 Hypotaxis: Subordination of clauses to show
relationships.
 Hypozeuxis: Every clause having its own subject and
verb.
 Hysteron proteron: Reversing temporal sequence to
put key things first.
 Illeism: Referring to oneself in the third person.
 Inclusio: Bracketing a passage with the same words.
 Innuendo: Oblique allusion.
 Irony: Saying something by using its opposite.
 Isocolon: Phrases with multiple similarities.
 Kenning: Replacing noun with circumlocutory
mythologising.
 Kolakeia: Flattery to distract from unwanted
elements.
 Litotes: Denying the contrary of what it being
affirmed.
 Malapropism: replacing a word with one that sounds
similar.
 Meiosis: Understatement for emphasis or effect.
 Merism: Combining words for meaning beyond
normal combination.
 Merismos: Complete description or reference.
 Metalepsis: Referencing something through a weakly  Spoonerism: Interchange of initial letters of two
associated item. words.
 Metaphor: A is B. Using one thing to describe another.  Subreption: Phrasing words to misrepresent and
 Metaplasmus: Deliberate misspelling. conceling facts.
 Metathesis: Rearranging letters in a word.  Syllepsis: See Zeugma.
 Metonymy: Using one item to represent another.  Symploce: Simultaneous use of anaphora and
 Narratio: Presenting essential facts. epistrophe
 Nosism: Referring to oneself in the plural.  Synaloepha: Omitting one vowel to combine two
 Oeonismos: Expressing emotion through wishing or words.
hoping.  Synchysis: Confused arrangement of words.
 Optatio: Exclaiming a wish.  Syncope: Shortening word by omitting middle
 Oxymoron: Adjacent words that seem to contradict segment.
one another.  Syndeton: Use of conjunctions.
 Parachesis: Repeating the same sound in successive  Synecdoche: Understanding one thing with another.
words.  Synesis: Unifying things.
 Paradeigma: Listing examples to create generalization.  Synizesis: Successively sounded vowels.
 Paradiastole: Portraying a vice as a virtue.  Synonymia: Repeating synonyms for amplification.
 Paradox: Seeming contradiction.  Tapinosis: Downplaying and reducing something.
 Paraeneticon: Expressing emotion through  Tautology: Repeating meaning, unnecessarily.
exhortation.  Tmesis: Inserting a word in the middle of another.
 Paralipsis: Emphasis by obvious omission.  Transumptio: See Metalepsis.
 Parallelism: Repeated patterns in a sentence.  Tricolon: Three components, increasing power.
 Paraprosdokian: Surprising ending.  Zeugma: Two words linked to another, only one
 Parataxis: Successive independent clauses. appropriately.
 Paregmenon: Repetition of words of the same root.
 Parenthesis: Nesting sentences.
 Parisology: Deliberate use of ambiguous words.
 Parison: Matching patterns across structures.
 Parisosis: Same number of syllables in a clause.
 Paroemion: Excessive alliteration.
 Paromoiosis. Similar sounds across two clauses.
 Paronomasia: Using similarly sounding words.
 Parrhesia: Boldness of speech.
 Periphrasis: Roundabout wording.
 Perissologia: Excessive use of words.
 Personification: Giving an object human
characteristics.
 Pleonasm: Using unnecessary words.
 Ploce: Repetition of a word whilst varying specificity.
 Polyptoton: Repetition of a word in different forms.
 Polysyndeton: Repeating conjunctions.
 Polyptoton: Repetition in different forms.
 Praecisio: Not speaking to get over the message.
 Praegnans constructio: See Brachyology.
 Praeteritio: Mentioning something that is against the
rules.
 Procatalepsis: Answering objections in advance.
 Prolepsis: Anticipation of action.
 Proparalepsis: Adding letters to the end of a word.
 Prosthesis: Prefixing letters to the beginning of a
word.
 Proverb: An encapsulated and unquestioned wisdom.
 Psittacism: parrot-like repetition.
 Pun: A play on words.
 Repetitio: Repeating a single word.
 Rhyme: Repeating sounds at end of words.
 Scesis onamaton: Omitting the only verb.
 Sententia: Quoting wisdom to create truth.
 Simile: Explicit comparison between two things.