5 results for: Rhetoric
rhet·o·ric
Audio Help [ret-er-ik] Pronunciation Key
Audio Help [ret-er-ik] Pronunciation Key –noun
| 1. | (in writing or speech) the undue use of exaggeration or display; bombast. |
| 2. | the art or science of all specialized literary uses of language in prose or verse, including the figures of speech. |
| 3. | the study of the effective use of language. |
| 4. | the ability to use language effectively. |
| 5. | the art of prose in general as opposed to verse. |
| 6. | the art of making persuasive speeches; oratory. |
| 7. | (in classical oratory) the art of influencing the thought and conduct of an audience. |
| 8. | (in older use) a work on rhetoric. |
[Origin: 1300–50; < L rhétorica < Gk rhétorik
(téchné) rhetorical (art); r. ME rethorik < ML réthorica, L rhétorica, as above
]
(téchné) rhetorical (art); r. ME rethorik < ML réthorica, L rhétorica, as above
] | Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. |
Rhetoric
To learn more about Rhetoric visit Britannica.com
| © 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |
| rhet·o·ric
Audio Help (rět'ər-ĭk) Pronunciation Key
n.
[Middle English rethorik, from Old French rethorique, from Latin rhētoricē, rhētorica, from Greek rhētorikē (tekhnē), rhetorical (art), feminine of rhētorikos, rhetorical, from rhētōr, rhetor; see rhetor.] |
| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
rhetoric
c.1300, from O.Fr. rethorique, from L. rhetorice, from Gk. rhetorike techne "art of an orator," from rhetor (gen. rhetoros) "orator," related to rhema "word," lit. "that which is spoken," from PIE *wre-tor-, from base *were- "to speak" (cf. O.E. word, L. verbum, Gk. eirein "to say;" see verb). Rhetorical "eloquent" is from 1476; rhetorical question first attested 1843.
| Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper |
| rhetoric | |
noun | |
| 1. | using language effectively to please or persuade |
| 2. | high-flown style; excessive use of verbal ornamentation; "the grandiosity of his prose"; "an excessive ornateness of language" [syn: grandiosity] |
| 3. | loud and confused and empty talk; "mere rhetoric" [syn: palaver] |
| 4. | study of the technique and rules for using language effectively (especially in public speaking) |
| WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University. |
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