Humanities Languages 20 Figures of Speech That We Never Heard About in School* *But Should Have Share Flipboard Email Print In Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Yoda uses the figure of gradatio: "Fear leads to anger; anger leads to hatred; hatred leads to conflict; conflict leads to suffering.". (Justin Sullivan /Getty Images) Languages English Grammar Rhetoric & Style Using Words Correctly Writing Tips & Advice Sentence Structures Punctuation & Mechanics Developing Effective Paragraphs Developing Effective Essays Commonly Confused Words Questions & Answers Exercises & Quizzes Topic Suggestions Glossary of Key Terms Readings & Resources English as a Second Language Spanish French German Italian Japanese Mandarin by Richard Nordquist Updated March 20, 2017 One of the most popular pages at About.com Grammar & Composition is Top 20 Figures of Speech: definitions and examples of such terms as metaphor and metonymy, irony and understatement--all the rhetorical terms that you probably learned in school.But what about some of the less familiar figures and tropes? There are hundreds of them after all (many collected in our Tool Kit for Rhetorical Analysis). And while we may not recognize their names, we use and hear a good number of these devices every day.So let's take a look at 20 uncommon words (most of them Latin or Greek) for some fairly common rhetorical strategies. To view examples of a device (along with its etymology and a guide to pronunciation), simply click on the term to visit a page in our glossary. AccismusCoyness: a form of irony in which a person feigns a lack of interest in something that he or she actually desires. AnadiplosisRepetition of the last word of one line or clause to begin the next. ApophasisEmphasizing a point by seeming to pass over it--that is, mentioning something while disclaiming any intention of mentioning it. AposiopesisAn unfinished thought or broken sentence. BdelygmiaA litany of abuse--a series of critical epithets, descriptions, or attributes. BoostingAn adverbial construction used to support a claim or express a viewpoint more assertively and convincingly. ChleuasmosA sarcastic reply that mocks an opponent, leaving him or her without an answer. DehortatioDissuasive advice given with authority. DiatyposisRecommending useful precepts or advice to someone else. EpexegesisAdding words or phrases to further clarify or specify a statement already made. EpimoneFrequent repetition of a phrase or question; dwelling on a point. EpizeuxisRepetition of a word or phrase for emphasis (usually with no words in between). HypocrisisExaggerating the gestures or speech habits of another in order to mock him. ParonomasiaPunning, playing with words. ProlepsisFigurative device by which a future event is presumed to have already occurred. SkotisonIntentionally obscure speech or writing, designed to confuse an audience rather than clarify an issue. SynathroesmusThe piling up of adjectives, often in the spirit of invective. TapinosisName calling: undignified language that debases a person or thing. Tetracolon ClimaxA series of four members, usually in parallel form. ZeugmaUse of a word to modify or govern two or more words although its use may be grammatically or logically correct with only one. citecite this article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Nordquist, Richard. "20 Figures of Speech That We Never Heard About in School*." ThoughtCo, Jun. 21, 2016, thoughtco.com/figures-of-speech-we-never-heard-in-school-1691874. Nordquist, Richard. (2016, June 21). 20 Figures of Speech That We Never Heard About in School*. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/figures-of-speech-we-never-heard-in-school-1691874 Nordquist, Richard. "20 Figures of Speech That We Never Heard About in School*." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/figures-of-speech-we-never-heard-in-school-1691874 (accessed April 22, 2018). copy citation Continue Reading