Table of Figures of Speech and Emphasis

ID	Figure of Speech	English Name	Category	Definition	Emphasis	Notes
1	Allegory	Allegory	Illustration	Continued comparison by representation or implication	Points of comparison	Allegory is broader term in Semitic languages than Western.
2	Anadiplosis	Like Endings & Beginnings	Repetition	Repetition of the same word or words at the end of one sentence or clause and at the beginning of another.	The repeated words
3	Anaeresis	Detraction	Parentheses	A parenthetic addition complete in itself, a detraction by a negative expression.	The positive opposite	The negative appears to take something away but really is adding to it. Cf. Tapeinosis
4	Anaphora	Like-Beginnings	Repetition	The repetition of the same word at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences	The repeated word
5	Antanaclasis	Word-Clashing	Repetition	Repetition of the same word in the same sentence, with different meanings	Repeated words	Homonym – same word has more than one usage.
6	Antonomasia	Name Change	Meaning	Change of proper name for appellative or vice versa	Name	Description takes place of the literal name
7	Asyndeton	No-Ands	Grammar	An enumeration of things without conjunctions.	The whole unit	Important to view the group as a whole unit. May have emphasis on last item in list.
8	Catachresis	Incongruity	Meaning	One word changed for another only remotely connected with it.	Correct meaning.
9	Cataploce	Exclamation	Parentheses	A parenthetic addition complete in itself, a sudden exclamation.	On the sentence before.	E.g., “God forbid!” Exclamation differs from interjection because it usually involves an emotional response.
10	Climax	Gradation	Repetition	Continuous anadiplosis – repetition of endings and beginnings of one sentence or clause.	The build up of logic	Each concept repeated is important to note and consider. E.g. II Peter 1:5
11	Epanadiplosis	Encircling	Repetition	Repetition of the same word or words at the beginning and end of a sentence.	Repeated word(s)	Consider the sentences in between as a unit of thought.
12	Epistrophe	Like Endings	Repetition	Repetition of the same word or words at the end of successive clauses or sentences.	Repeated word(s)	Often sets a structural pattern.
13	Epitrechon	Remark (Running Along)	Parentheses	A parenthetic addition not complete in itself, used as an explanatory remark.	Pause	Read from before the parenthesis to after to complete the sentence.
14	Epizeugxis	Duplication	Repetition	Repetition of the same word in immediate succession.	Repeated word	Effect is to establish the word duplicated. E.g. Isaiah 26:3
15	Erotesis	Interrogative	Rhetoric	The asking of questions without waiting for the answer.	Answer	The meaning must be gleaned by putting the question into a statement. Question always has an obvious answer.
16	Hendiadys	Two for One	Meaning	Two words used, but one thing meant.	The combination of concepts	The words can be put together using one as an adjective, but more often are best described with a different word that combines the two ideas.
17	Homeopropheron	Alliteration	Repetition	Repetition of the same letter or syllable at the commencement of successive words.	What the syllable means	If the alliteration is only a letter, the emphasis is on the words that have that letter.
18	Hypocatastasis	Implication	Illustration	A declaration that implies the resemblance or representation, comparison by implication.	What is compared	In Semitic thinking, the parts of the body all represent something specific. Can take a metaphor and use the meaning without the verb “to be”
19	Hypotimesis	Under-Estimating	Parentheses	A parenthetic addition complete in itself, an underevaluation, apology or excuse	The opposite
20	Idioma	Idiom	Meaning	The peculiar usage of words and phrases.	The real meaning of phrase	Idioms are particular to each language and culture.
21	Interjectio	Interjection	Parentheses	A parenthetic addition complete in itself, thrown in between, exclamation	What follows the exclamation
22	Metalepsis	Double Metonymy	Meaning	Two metonymies, one contained in the other, but only one expressed	The meaning underneath	There are at least two steps to discover the meaning
23	Metaphor	Representation	Illustration	A declaration that one thing is (or represents) another, or comparison by representation	What is represented	Usually has form of the verb “to be”
24	Metonymy	Change of Noun	Meaning	The change of one noun for another related noun.	The related noun	Several categories: cause, effect, time, place
25	Parabola	Parable	Illustration	Comparison by continued resemblance.	Points of comparison	Can be extended simile. There is often more than one point of comparison. Parable is a broader term in Semitic thinking than in Greek.
26	Paradiastole	Neither-Nor	Repetition	Repetition of the disjunctives: neither, nor, either, or	Words in between	Consider each noun or phrase carefully.
27	Parembole	Insertion	Parentheses	A parenthetic addition complete in itself – a digression.	The parenthesis as a unit	Context not needed or required to be understood
28	Polysyndeton	Many-Ands	Grammar	The repetition of the word “and” at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences.	Each connected noun or phrase	Consider each word connected with “and” carefully.
29	Prosopopoeia	Personification	Illustration	Things or ideas represented as persons.	The thing or idea	Human characteristics given to inanimate objects or abstract ideas. Can be an action that a person would do.
30	Repetitio	Repetition	Repetition	Repetition of the same word or words irregularly in the same passage.	Ties the passage together	The repeated word is emphasized but often to just set the structural pattern.
31	Simile	Resemblance	Illustration	A declaration that one thing resembles another, comparison by resemblance.	That which is described	Uses “like” or “as” in comparison. The meaning is understood more vividly and often more deeply because of the comparison.
32	Syncrisis	Repeated Simile	Illustration	Repetition of a number of resemblances.	The points of comparison	Several similes linked together in close proximity
33	Synecdoche	Transfer (or Part for Whole)	Meaning	The exchange of one idea for another associated idea.	The implied idea	Often a part is used for the whole.
34	Tapeinosis	Demeaning	Rhetoric	A lessening of a thing in order to increase it.	The true meaning	Differs from meosis – the word(s) magnified are the same.
35	Meiosis	Belittling	Rhetoric	A belittling of something in order to magnify something else.	The true meaning	Cf. Tapeinosis
36	Parenthesis	Parenthesis	Parentheses	A parenthetic addition complete in itself, but needs context to be understood	Explanation of previous sentence	This is the true figure of parenthesis used as an explanation or description.
37	Paramegnon	Derivation	Repetition	Repetition of words derived from same root: similar in sound but different in meaning	The build up of concept	Usually different nouns or verbs formed from same root but which have distinct meanings of their own.
38	Homeoteleuton	Like Endings	Repetition	Repetition of successive words ending with same letters or syllables	Repeated word(s)
39	Homeoptoton	Like Inflections	Repetition	Repetition of like inflections	Words with repeated endings
40	Paromoesis	Assimilation	Repetition	Repetition of inflections similar in sound	Words with repeated inflections
41	Epanalepsis	Resumption	Repetition	Repetition of word or phrase after any kind of parenthesis or digression	Marks return to a previous subject
42	Hendiatris	Three for One	Meaning	Three words used, one thing meant	The combination of concepts
43	Ellipsis	Omission	Rhetoric	Words omitted from a sentence or phrase that are necessary to complete the grammar, but not the sense	The omitted word
44	Paroemia	Proverb	Rhetoric	A saying, a trite expression, common remark, maxim	The moral lesson implied	These are culturally related and it is important to understand the manners or customs behind the saying
45	Enigma	Dark Saying	Rhetoric	A dark or obscure saying, a puzzling statement, riddle	The truth behind the statement	Often the saying is not explained
46	Eironeia	Irony	Meaning	The expression of thought in a form that naturally conveys the opposite	The opposite meaning	Can be sarcastic, but more often is only obviously the opposite.
47	Oxymoron	Wise-Folly	Rhetoric	A wise saying that seems foolish	The wisdom or lesson implied	Some proverbs utilize this figure
48	Apostrophe	Aside	Rhetoric	A turning aside from the direct subject matter to address others	Points to specific group	The group addressed needs to take special note
49	Heterosis	Exchange	Meaning	Exchange of one accidence of part of speech for another	The correct form	This is especially used with verb tenses.
50	Hypallage	Interchange	Meaning	An interchange of construction whereby a word is grammatically related with another		In a genitive phrase the first noun is interchanged as an adjective.
51	Hyperbole	Exaggeration	Meaning	When more is said than is literally meant.	The literal meaning
52	Anabasis	Gradual Ascent	Rhetoric	An increase of sense in successive sentences.	The logic of the sentences
53	Catabasis	Gradual Descent	Rhetoric	A decrease of sense in successive sentences.	The logic of the sentences
54	Merismos	Distribution	Meaning	An enumeration of the parts of a whole that has been mentioned	The whole	E.g. “morning and evening” means the whole day
55	Synathroesmos	Enumeration	Meaning	An enumeration of the parts of a whole that has not been mentioned	The whole	Cf. Merismos
56	Epanados	Inversion	Repetition	Repetition of different words in a sentence, in an inverse order (but same sense)	Repeated words	Contributes to understanding of the structure of a passage.
57	Paranomasia	Rhyming Words	Repetition	Repetition of words similar in sound, but not in sense or origin.	The concepts that rhyme
58	Polyptoton	Many Inflections	Repetition	Repetition of the same noun or verb in different conjugations or inflections.	The root verb	Can be verb with related noun/adjective. Common in Semitic languages.
59	Synonymia	Synonym	Meaning	Repetition of words different in sound and origin, but similar in meaning	The repeated concept	Common in English and Western languages.
60	Repeated Negation	Many No’s	Repetition	Repetition of two or more negatives	The negative	Can be combination of negative verb with another negative conjunction.
61	Euphemismos	Ephemism	Meaning	Change of what is unpleasant for pleasant	The reality of what is meant
62	Hyperbaton	Transposition	Grammar	The placing of a word out of its usual order in a sentence.	The word out of place	Often used with an adjective or pronoun.
63	Anthropopatheia	Condescension	Meaning	The ascribing of human attributes to God	The action or picture described	Hebrew name is “Derech Benai Adam”, the way of the sons of man.
64	Epibole	Overlaid Repetition	Repetition	Repetition of the same phrase at irregular intervals.	The repeated phrase	Differs from anaphora and repetitio by being a phrase not just one word.

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