Examples

Type	Definition	Example	Ritual
Alliteration	repetition of the same sound beginning several words in sequence.	Let us go forth to lead the land we love. J. F. Kennedy	“. . . this worthy, worshipful and warranted Lodge.”
Anacoluthon	lack of grammatical sequence; a change in the grammatical construction within the same sentence.	Agreements entered into when one state of facts exists — are they to be maintained regardless of changing conditions? J. Diefenbaker	“. . . which may heretofore have been known by, shall now, or may at any future time. . .”
Anadiplosis	(“doubling back”) the rhetorical repetition of one or several words; specifically, repetition of a word that ends one clause at the beginning of the next.	Men in great place are thrice servants :servants of the sovereign or state; servants of fame; and servants of business. Francis Bacon
Anaphora	the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses or lines.	We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender. Churchill.	“. . .you owe to God, to your neighbour, and to yourself.” or “more ancient than the Golden Fleece or Roman Eagle, more honourable than the Garter . . .”
Anastrophe	transposition of normal word order; most often found in Latin in the case of prepositions and the words they control. Anastrophe is a form of hyperbaton.	The helmsman steered; the ship moved on; yet never a breeze up blew. Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner	“. . . may improperly become known”
Antimetabole	a subtype of chiasmus which reverses the exact same wording in successive clauses.	“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”
Antistrophe	repetition of the same word or phrase at the end of successive clauses.	In 1931, ten years ago, Japan invaded Manchukuo — without warning. In 1935, Italy invaded Ethiopia — without warning. In 1938, Hitler occupied Austria — without warning. In 1939, Hitler invaded C
Antithesis	opposition, or contrast of ideas or words in a balanced or parallel construction.	Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice, moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue. Barry Goldwater Brutus: Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
Aporia	expression of doubt (often feigned) by which a speaker appears uncertain as to what he should think, say, or do.	Then the steward said within himself, ‘What shall I do?’ Luke 16 Demosthenes, On the Crown 129
Aposiopesis	a form of ellipse by which a speaker comes to an abrupt halt, seemingly overcome by passion (fear, excitement, etc.) or modesty.	“Get out, or else—!”
Apostrophe	a sudden turn from the general audience to address a specific group or person or personified abstraction absent or present.	For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar’s angel. Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him. Shakespeare, Julius Caesar	“. . . exceed the powers with which they are entrusted; and you Brethren I am sure, are of too generous a disposition to envy their preferment.”
Archaism	use of an older or obsolete form.	Pipit sate upright in her chair Some distance from where I was sitting; T. S. Eliot, “A Cooking Egg”	“I will always hele, conceal, and never reveal. . .” or “. . which may heretofore have been known by. . .”
Assonance	repetition of the same sound in words close to each other.	Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.	“may become legible or intelligible. . .” or “without evasion, equivocation, or mental reservation . .”
Asyndeton	lack of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words.	We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardships, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. J. F. Kennedy, Inaugural
Brachylogy	a general term for abbreviated or condensed expression, of which asyndeton and zeugma are types. Ellipse is often used synonymously. The suppressed word or phrase can usually be supplied easily from the surrounding context.	Aeolus haec contra: Vergil, Aeneid Non Cinnae, non Sullae longa dominatio. Tacitus, Annales I.1
Cacophony	harsh joining of sounds.	We want no parlay with you and your grisly gang who work your wicked will. W. Churchill O Tite tute Tati tibi tanta tyranne tulisti! Ennius
Catachresis	a harsh metaphor involving the use of a word beyond its strict sphere.	I listen vainly, but with thirsty ear. MacArthur, Farewell Address Cynthia prima suis miserum me cepit ocellis. Propertius I.1.1	“. . .pour the healing balm of consolation into the bosom of the afflicted.”
Chiasmus	two corresponding pairs arranged not in parallels (a-b-a-b) but in inverted order (a-b-b-a); from shape of the Greek letter chi (X).	Those gallant men will remain often in my thoughts and in my prayers always. MacArthur “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”
Climax	arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in an order of ascending power. Often the last emphatic word in one phrase or clause is repeated as the first emphatic word of the next.	One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. Tennyson, Ulysses Nonne hunc in vincula duci, non ad mortem rapi, non
Euphemism	substitution of an agreeable or at least non-offensive expression for one whose plainer meaning might be harsh or unpleasant.	When the final news came, there would be a ring at the front door — a wife in this situation finds herself staring at the front door as if she no longer owns it or controls it–and outside the door
Hendiadys	use of two words connected by a conjunction, instead of subordinating one to the other, to express a single complex idea.	It sure is nice and cool today! (for “pleasantly cool”) I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Psalms 116 Perfecti oratoris moderatione et sapientia. Cicero, De oratore
Hypallage	(“exchanging”) transferred epithet; grammatical agreement of a word with another word which it does not logically qualify. More common in poetry.	Exegi monumentum aere perennius regalique situ pyramidum altius, Horace, Odes III.30	“. . .in like manner it is your peculiar province to communicate light and instruction to the Brethren.”
Hyperbaton	separation of words which belong together, often to emphasize the first of the separated words or to create a certain image.	Speluncam Dido dux et Troianus eandem Vergil, Aeneid 4.124, 165
Hyperbole	exaggeration for emphasis or for rhetorical effect.	My vegetable love should grow Vaster than empires, and more slow; An hundred years should got to praise Thine eyes and on thine forehead gaze; Two hundred to adore each breast, But thirty thousand to	“. . . he is one to whom the burdened heart may pour forth its sorrow, to whom the distressed may prefer their suit, whose hand is guided by justice, and whose heart is expanded by benevolence.”
Hysteron Proteron	inversion of the natural sequence of events, often meant to stress the event which, though later in time, is considered the more important.	“I like the island Manhattan. Smoke on your pipe and put that in.” — from the song “America,” West Side Story lyric by Stephen Sondheim (submitted per litteram by guest rhetorician Anthony Scelba)
Irony	expression of something which is contrary to the intended meaning; the words say one thing but mean another.	Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man. Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
Litotes	understatement, for intensification, by denying the contrary of the thing being affirmed. (Sometimes used synonymously with meiosis.)	A few unannounced quizzes are not inconceivable. War is not healthy for children and other living things. One nuclear bomb can ruin your whole day. (meiosis)
Metaphor	implied comparison achieved through a figurative use of words; the word is used not in its literal sense, but in one analogous to it.	Life’s but a walking shadow; a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage. Shakespeare, Macbeth . . . while he learned the language (that meager and fragile thread . . . by which the	“. . .measure our actions by the rule of rectitude, square our conduct by the principles of morality and guide our inclinations and even our thoughts within the compass of propriety.”
Metonymy	substitution of one word for another which it suggests.	He is a man of the cloth. The pen is mightier than the sword. By the sweat of thy brow thou shalt eat thy bread.
Onomatopoeia	use of words to imitate natural sounds; accommodation of sound to sense.	At tuba terribili sonitu taratantara dixit. Ennius
Oxymoron	apparent paradox achieved by the juxtaposition of words which seem to contradict one another.	I must be cruel only to be kind. Shakespeare, Hamlet
Paradox	an assertion seemingly opposed to common sense, but that may yet have some truth in it.	What a pity that youth must be wasted on the young. George Bernard Shaw
Paraprosdokian	surprise or unexpected ending of a phrase or series.	There but for the grace of God — goes God. Churchill
Paronomasia	use of similar sounding words; often etymological word-play.	…culled cash, or cold cash, and then it turned into a gold cache. E.L. Doctorow, Billy Bathgate Thou art Peter (Greek petros), and upon this rock (Greek petra) I shall build my church. Matthew 16
Personification	attribution of personality to an impersonal thing.	England expects every man to do his duty. Lord Nelson Nunc te patria, quae communis est parens omnium nostrum, odit ac metuit et iam diu nihil te iudicat nisi de parricidio suo cogitare. Cicero, In C	“like its sister Mercy. . .”
Pleonasm	use of superfluous or redundant words, often enriching the thought.	No one, rich or poor, will be excepted. Ears pierced while you wait! I have seen no stranger sight since I was born.	“if once admitted, you will afterwards act and abide . . .”
Polysyndeton	the repetition of conjunctions in a series of coordinate words, phrases, or clauses.	I said, “Who killed him?” and he said, “I don’t know who killed him but he’s dead all right,” and it was dark and there was water standing in the street and no lights and windows broke and boats all
Praeteritio	pretended omission for rhetorical effect.	That part of our history detailing the military achievements which gave us our several possessions … is a theme too familiar to my listeners for me to dilate on, and I shall therefore pass it by. T	“I now present to you the working tools of an Entered Apprentice Freemason. . .  you are so well acquainted with their uses, that I need not here explain them at length . . .”
Prolepsis	the anticipation, in adjectives or nouns, of the result of the action of a verb; also, the positioning of a relative clause before its antecedent.	Vixi et quem dederat cursum fortuna peregi, Vergil, Aeneid 4.653 Consider the lilies of the field how they grow.
Simile	an explicit comparison between two things using ‘like’ or ‘as’.	My love is as a fever, longing still For that which longer nurseth the disease, Shakespeare, Sonnet CXLVII Reason is to faith as the eye to the telescope. D. Hume [?] Let us go then, you and I, While	“As the sun rises in the East to open and enliven the day, so the Worshipful Master is placed in the East. . .”
Syllepsis	use of a word with two others, with each of which it is understood differently.	We must all hang together or assuredly we will all hang separately. Benjamin Franklin
Synchysis	scattered word order to cause confusion.	aurea purpuream subnectit fibula vestem Vergil, Aeneid 4.139	“assisted by the secrets of our Masonic art, he may the better be enabled to unfold the beauties of true godliness. . .”
Synecdoche	understanding one thing with another; the use of a part for the whole, or the whole for the part. (A form of metonymy.)	Give us this day our daily bread. Matthew 6 I should have been a pair of ragged claws Scuttling across the floors of silent seas. T. S. Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” The U.S. won three	“It is my duty to inform you that Masonry is free. . .”
Synesis	the agreement of words according to logic, and not by the grammatical form; a kind of anacoluthon.	For the wages of sin is death. Romans 6 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. Acts 6
Tautology	repetition of an idea in a different word, phrase, or sentence.	With malice toward none, with charity for all. Lincoln, Second Inaugural	“. . .and like its sister, Mercy, blesses him who gives as well as him who receives.”