The Cat in the Hat
Latin to English
Cattus Petasatus
The Cat with the Traveling Cap On
Imber totum diem fluit
Urcretim semper pluit.
Taedet intus nos manere:
Numquam potest sol splendere,
All day the rain pours
Always raining by the bucket.
It wearies us to remain inside:
Never is the sun able to shine,
Desidesque sic sedemus,
Nec ridemus, nec gaudemus.
Fore finem quiescendi
Mihi spes est et sedendi
And so we desire to sit,
Neither laughing, nor glad.
If only there was something to do
Yet our hope is only to sit
Frigas vetat firas ire
Caelum vetat lascivire.
Domi sumus quiescentes,
Nil omnino facientes.
The cold prohibits going outside
The weather prohibits playfulness.
At home we are peaceful,
With nothing at all to do.
Dum sedemus otiose
Somnulenti, stomachosi
Dico Sarae displicere
Mihi semper sic sedere.
While sitting undisturbed
Tired, weary and angry
Said Sara it is displeasing
Yet so always to sit.
Cat in the Hat Seuss
The sun did not shine
It was too wet to play.
So we sat in the house
All that cold, cold, wet day.
I sat there with Sally,
We sat there, we two.
And I said, “How I wish
We had something to do!”
Too wet to go out
And too cold to play ball.
So we sat in the house.
We did nothing at all.
So all we could do was to
Sit! Sit! Sit! Sit!
And we did not like it,
Not one little bit.
Brief history of Latin, the, so called “dead” language.
Latin was the language of the Roman Empire which conquered and adopted the many
cultural principles of the Greeks: philosophy, pantheism, history, medicine, drama and
literature, mathematics, civic responsibility and representative democracy, military
strategy, art, law, science and much more. Romans did not adopt the Greek language.
However, they spread, via conquest of Europe, parts of Africa and most of Asia Minor,
the culture of Ancient Greece as well as their own language.
Once the Christian church began to flourish, it took Latin as its official language. This
was done primarily because Latin was spoken and used throughout the Empire. The
Roman Catholic Church maintains its use of Latin in its services to this day (although no
longer required as of 1960). Latin remained the language of academics at least through
the 1700’s…..Sir Issac Newton and man other mathematicians and scientists
communicated their ideas in Latin and relied on the writings of the ancient Greek and
Roman thinkers which were prevalently written in Latin.
While the Romans had conquered the British Isles during the days of the Empire, it was
primarily the indirect influence of the introduction of the sister language French via the
Norman conquest of England by William in 1066 that created a melding of Latin and
Anglo Saxon languages to make English about 60% Latin. Catholic monks in England
also contributed Latin directly to the language through the liturgy of the church……most
scholarly writings were maintained by monastics writing in Latin, (because it was the
language of the church and was universally understood in Europe and elsewhere,
especially by academicians).
French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese are sister languages of Latin, the “Romance”
languages and are spoken throughout the world today by as many as one out of six
people. The “sister” languages are considered to be Modern Latin since they are each
derived from and obviously similar to Old Latin. It was French, in particular, which
influenced English, however.
It is often overlooked, but much of our grammatical structures of English have their
origin in Latin….conjugation of verbs, declension of nouns and pronouns, and basic
syntactical structures such as not using double negatives or ending sentences with a
preposition.
Today, Latin is directly used in science (taxonomy of plant and animal kingdoms,
geologic time periods, constellations, periodic table of elements……), in law (habeas
corpus (L. “you are to have the body”)….provides that an authority must prove before a
court that it has good reason to detain a person); ex post facto (L “from after the action”)
refers to laws that change prior situations and could allow authority to criminalize what
was not previously criminal….the US Constitution prohibits ex post facto laws; amicus
curiae (L. friend of the court); juris prudence
caveat emptor (L. “let the buyer
beware”) provides protection for a seller against buyers making claims of fraud after a
legitimate sale; corpus delicti (L. “body of crime”) requires that it must be proven that a
law was broken/ a crime committed before someone can be accused of the crime; alibi (L.
“ in another place” ; Quid pro quo , (L. “something for something the idea that equal
values are exchanged in any situation; verdict (L.”to say the truth”); pro bono (L. “for
good).
In medicine we need go no further than anatomy: all the bones and muscles are named
using Latin terminology: humerus, ulna, radius, femur, patella, carpals, sternum,
cranium, etc quadriceps, biceps, trapezius, tricep, latissimus dorsi…
The laws of our nation and our nation itself are built off of concepts derived directly or
indirectly from Ancient Rome and Greece. Today our coins still have “e. pluibus unum”
minted into each one (from many one); one dollar bills have “annuit coeptis” generally
accepted to mean “smile on endeavors” and below that is “novus ordo seclorum”
meaning a “new order of the ages” interestingly, at the base of the pyramid on the back
of the one dollar bill are the Roman numerals MDCCLXXVI (1776)!
Write these words…don’t worry about spelling, just come as close as
you can…: then actually check for spelling and discuss word parts that
are familiar. Can we guess the meanings?
Pandemonium all divine power
Omnivorous devour all
Reincarnation in the body again
Photosynthesis putting together alike light
Aeroacrophobia fear of open high places
Bibliophobia
Chromophobia
Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis lung disease caused by
inhaling silica dust…longest word in Oxford English Distionary
Somnambulant sleep walking
Hemidemisemiquaver a note played for 1/64th of a whole note
Prestidigitation magic
Geomorphological
Zooplankton
Photomicrograph
Thermodynamics
Electrocardiogram
Metric Prefixes
To help the SI units apply to a wide range of phenomena, the 19th General Conference on
Weights and Measures in 1991 extended the list of metric prefixes so that it reaches from
yotta- at 1024 (one septillion) to yocto- at 10-24 (one septillionth). Here are the metric
prefixes, with their numerical equivalents stated in the American system for naming large
numbers:
yotta- (Y-)
1024 1 septillion
zetta- (Z-)
1021 1 sextillion
exa- (E-)
1018 1 quintillion
peta- (P-)
1015 1 quadrillion
tera- (T-)
1012 1 trillion
giga- (G-)
109
1 billion
mega- (M-)
106
1 million
kilo- (k-)
103
1 thousand
hecto- (h-)
102
1 hundred
deka- (da-)** 10
1 ten
deci- (d-)
10-1
1 tenth
centi- (c-)
10-2
1 hundredth
milli- (m-)
10-3
1 thousandth
micro- (µ-)
10-6
1 millionth
nano- (n-)
10-9
1 billionth
pico- (p-)
10-12 1 trillionth
femto- (f-)
10-15 1 quadrillionth
atto- (a-)
10-18 1 quintillionth
zepto- (z-)
10-21 1 sextillionth
yocto- (y-)
10-24 1 septillionth
Prefix
Meaning
Example
a, an
without, not
asexual, amoral, anarchy, anhydrous,
Anabaptist, anachronism
ab, abs, a
apart, away from
abnormal, abduct, abductor (muscle),
abscission .See ad in Prefixes,
ad
toward
adhere, adductor (muscle) . See ab in
Prefixes section), adumbrate
agere
act
agent, agency, agenda
amphi, ambi
round, both sides
amphitheater, amphibian, ambidextrous,
ambivalent
ante
before
antedate, anteroom, antecedent, anterior
anthro
man
anthropology, anthropomorphic
anti
against
antipathy, antitank, anticlimax
aqua
water
aquarium, aqueous
archaios
ancient
archeology, archetype, archaic, archeozoic
archos
leader, first, chief
monarchy, oligarchy, anarchy, archetype,
architect
audio
hear
audiophile, audiometer, auditory
auto
self
automatic, automaton, auto-immune
bi
two
bi-partisan, bisexual, biennial, binary,
bicuspid, bivalve
bene
well, favorable
benefit, benevolent, benefactor, beneficent
bible
book
bibliography, Bible, bibliophile
bio
life
biology, biography, bio-active
caco
Bad
cacophony
cide
kill
homicide, parricide, germicidal, ecocide
circum
around
circumference, circumlocution,
circumnavigate
constitutus
stand
constitution, statute
corpus
body
corpse, corporeal punishment, corpus
callosum
cracy
rule
democracy, theocrat, technocracy
credo
belief
credit, (see also roots section)
demos
people
democracy, demographic
di
two, double
dimorphism, dicotyledon, diatomic
dia
across, through
diagonal, dialectic, dialogue, diagnosis
dis
not, apart
disperse, disinherit, disenfranchise, distend
dominus
lord
dominant, dominion
dynasthai
be able
dynamic, dynamo, dynasty, dynamite
ego
I, self
ego, egomaniac, egocentric,
epi
upon, over
epidermis, epidemic, epigram, epitaph,
epithet, epiphyte, epistasis, epinephrine,
epiphysis
ex
out
exotic, exterior, extraneous,
extemporaneous, exophalmic, exogenous,
exothermic, exoskeleton
federis (see also Roots
section)
league, pact
federation, confederate
frater
brother
fraternize, fraternity, fraternal, fratricide
geo
earth
geology, geography, geocentric, geomancy
graph (see also Roots
section)
write, record
graphic, graphite, graphology,
hetero
mixed, unlike
heterogeneous, heterosexual, heterodox,
heterodont, hetero atom, heterocyclic,
heterozygous,
homo
same, alike
homogeneous, homogenized, homozygous,
homolytic fission, Homo sapiens, homonid,
homeostasis
idem
the same
identity, idiopathic, I, individual
ideo
idea
ideology, ideation, ideal
idios
one's own
idiom, idiosyncrasy, idiopathic
in
in
incarcerate, incorporate, inculcate, induction,
inductance, indigenous, indicator, inspiration
in, im
not
incredible, ignoble, inglorious, inhospitable,
infinite, infinitesimal, immoral
inter
between
interact, interstellar, interpret, interstitial
legis (lex)
law
legal, legislature
lexis
word
lexicon, lexicography
liber
free, book
liberty, library, liberal
locus
place
locality, local, circumlocution
macro
large
macroeconomics, macroscopic, macrophage
mania (see Roots section
also)
obsession
maniac, Beatlemania
meter (see Roots section
also)
measure
metronome, speedometer, odometer
micro
small
microscope, micron, micrometer,
microorganism
mittere, mitto (see Roots
section also)
send
mission, transmit, remit
mono
one, single
monocle, monopoly, monogamy, monovalent,
monomania, monarchy
mortis
death
mortician, mortuary, moribund, morbid
nomen
name
noble, ignominy, nomenclature, nominal
olig
few
oligarchy, oligopoly
pater
father
paternal, paternity, patricide
ped (see Roots section also)
foot
pedestrian, pedal, pedicure, podiatrist
peri
around
peripatetic, periscope, perineum, peritoneum
phage (see Roots section
also)
eat
phagocyte, phagocytosis
philo
love
philosophy, philanthropy
phobos (see Roots section)
phon (see Roots section)
polein
sell
monopoly
polis (see Roots section also)
city
political, metropolitan
poly (see Roots section also)
many
polygamy, polyphonic, hoi polloi
porto
carry
porter, export
post
after
post script (p.s.), ex post facto, post hoc,
post-mortem
pre
before
premier, preview, premium, prescient
pro
before, in favor of
project, projectile,
psyche
mind, soul
psychology
publicus
people
public, republic, pub, publican
riparia
river
riparian
scope
examine
microscope, oscilloscope
scribo (see Roots section
also)
write
transcribe, scribe, script
solus
alone
solo, solitary
subter
under, secret
subterfuge, subtle, subaltern, subterranean
sin (sys before b, p, or m)
together, with
synchronize, symphony, sympathy, syncretic,
syncope
tele
distance
telegraph, telephone, teleology
trans
across
transport, transcend, transmogrify
utilis
useful
utility, utilitarian
vide, visibil, vis
see
video, vision, visible
Root
Meaning
Examples
acer, acid, acri
bitter, sour, sharp
acerbic, acidity, acrid, acrimony
acu
sharp
acute, acupuncture, accurate
ag, agi, ig, act
do, move, go
agent, agenda, agitate, navigate, ambiguous,
action
ali, allo, alter
other
alias, alibi, alien, alloy, alter, alter ego,
altruism
alt(us)
high, deep
altimeter, altitude
am, amor
love, liking
amiable, amorous, enamoured
Anni, annu, enni
year
anniversary, annually, centennial
anthrop
man
anthropology, misanthrope, philanthropy
anti(co)
old
antique, antiquated, antiquity
arch
chief, first, rule
archangel, architect, archaic, monarchy,
matriarchy, patriarchy, Archeozoic era
aster, astr
star
aster, asterisk, asteroid, astronomy, astronaut
aud, aus
hear, listen
audiology, auditorium, audio, audition,
ausculate
aug, auc
increase
augur, augment, auction
auto, aut
self
automobile, autograph, automatic
belli
war
rebellion, belligerent, casus belli, bellicose
bibl
book
Bible, bibliography, bibliomania
bio
life
biology, biometrics, biome, biosphere
brev
short
abbreviate, brief
cad, cas
to fall
cadaver, cadence, cascade
calor
heat
calorie, caloric, calorimeter
cap, cip, cept
take
capable, intercept, forceps, capture, except,
reciprocate
capit, capt
head
decapitate, capital, captain, caption
carn
flesh
carnivorous, incarnate, reincarnation, carnal
caus, caut
burn, heat
caustic, cauldron, cauterize
cause, cuse, cus
cause, motive
because, excuse, accusation
ced, ceed, cede, cess
move, yield, go,
procedure, proceed, cede, concede, recede,
surrender
precede, accede, success
cenetri
center
concentric, centrifugal, centripetal, eccentric
chrom
color
chrome, chromosome, polychrome, chromatic
chron
time
chronology, chronometer, synchronize
cide, cise
cut down, kill
homicide, exorcise, germicide, incision,
scissors
cit
call, start
incite, citation, cite
civ
citizen
civic, civil, civilian, civilization
clam, claim
cry out
exclamation, clamor, proclamation,
reclamation, acclaim
clud, clus, claus
shut
include, conclude, recluse, claustrophobia,
occlusion, occult
cognoac, gnosi
know
recognize, prognosis, cognoscenti, incognito,
agnostic
cord, cor, cardi
heart
cordial, concord, discord, courage, encourage
corp
body
corporation, corporal punishment, corpse,
corpulent, corpus luteum
cosm
universe, world
cosmos, microcosm, cosmopolitan,
cosmonaut
crat, cracy
rule
autocrat, aristocrat, theocracy, technocracy
crea
create
creature, recreation, creation
cred
believe
creed, credo, credence, credit, credulous,
incredulous, incredible
cresc, cret, crease, cru
rise, grow
crescendo, concrete, increase, decrease,
accrue
crit
separate, choose
critical, criterion, hypocrite
cur, curs
run
current, concurrent, concur, incur, recur,
occur, courier, precursor, cursive
cura
care
curator, curative, manicure
cycl, cyclo
wheel, circular
Cyclops, unicycle, bicycle, cyclone, cyclic
deca
ten
decade, decalogue, decathlon, decahedron
dem
people
democracy, demography, epidemic
dent, dont
tooth
dental, denture, orthodontist, periodontal
derm
skin
hypodermic, dermatology, epidermis,
taxidermy
dict
say, speak
dictation, dictionary, dictate, dictator,
Dictaphone, edict, predict, verdict, contradict,
benediction
doc, dokein
teach
doctrine, indoctrinate, document, dogma,
dogmatic
domin
master
dominate, dominion, predominant, domain
don
give
donate, condone
dorm
sleep
dormant, dormitory
dox
opinion, praise
orthodox, heterodox, paradox, doxology
drome
run, step
syndrome (run together), hippodrome (place
where horses run)
duc, duct
lead
induce, seduce (lead aside), produce, reduce
dura
hard, lasting
durable, duration, endure
dynam
power
dynamo, dynamic, dynamite, hydrodynamics
endo
within
endorse, endocardial, endoskeletal,
endoskeleton, endosperm
equi
equal
equinox, equilibrium, equipoise
erg
work
energy, erg, allergy, ergometer, ergograph,
ergophobia
fac, fact, fic, fect
do, make
factory, fact, manufacture, amplification,
confection
fall, fals
deceive
fallacy, falsify, fallacious
fer
bear, carry
ferry, coniferous, fertile, defer, infer, refer,
transfer
fid, fide, feder(is)
faith, trust
confidante, fidelity, confident, infidelity, infidel,
federal, confederacy, semper fi
fila, fili
thread
filigree, filament, filter, filet, filibuster
fin
end, ended, finished
final, finite, finish, confine, fine, refine, define,
finale
fix
fix
fix, fixation, fixture, affix, prefix, suffix
flex, flect
bend
flex, reflex, flexible, flexor, inflexibility, reflect,
deflect
flu, fluc, fluv
flowing
influence, fluid, flue, flush, fluently, fluctuate
form
form, shape
form, uniform, conform, formulary, perform,
formal, formula
fort, forc
strong
fort, fortress, fortify, forte, fortitude
fract, frag
break
fracture, infraction, fragile, fraction, refract
gam
marriage
bigamy, monogamy, polygamy
gastr (o)
stomach
gastric, gastronomic, gastritis, gastropod
gen
birth, race, produce
genesis, genetics, eugenics, genealogy,
generate, genetic, antigen, pathogen
geo
earth
geometry, geography, geocentric, geology
germ
vital part
germination, germ, germane
gest
carry, bear
congest, gestation
gloss, glot
tongue
glossary, polyglot, epiglottis
glu, glo
lump, bond, glue
glue, agglutinate, conglomerate
grad, gress
step, go
grade, gradual, graduate, progress,
graduated, egress
graph, gram
write, written
graph, graphic, autograph, photography,
graphite, telegram
grat
pleasing
congratulate, gratuity, grateful, ingrate
grav
heavy, weighty
grave, gravity, aggravate, gravitate
greg
herd
gregarious, congregation, segregate,
gregarian
hypn
sleep
hypnosis, hypnotherapy
helio
sun
heliograph, heliotrope, heliocentric
hema, hemo
blood
hemorrhage, hemoglobin, hemophilia,
hemostat
here, hes
stick
adhere, cohere, cohesion, inherent, hereditary
hetero
different
heterogeneous, heterosexual, heterodox
homo
same
homogeneous, homonym, homogenize
hum, human
earth, ground, man
humus, exhume, humane
hydr, hydra, hydro
water
dehydrate, hydrant, hydraulic, hydraulics,
hydrogen, hydrophobia
ignis
fire
ignite, igneous, ignition
ject
throw
deject, inject, project, eject, interject
join, junct
join
adjoining, enjoin, juncture, conjunction,
injunction, conjunction
juven
young
juvenile, rejuvenate
lau, lav, lot, lut
wash
launder, lavatory, lotion, ablution, dilute
leg
law
legal, legislate, legislature, legitimize
levi
light
alleviate, levitate, levity
liber, liver
free
liberty, liberal, liberalize, deliverance
liter
letters
literary, literature, literal, alliteration, obliterate
loc, loco
place
locality, allocate, locomotion
log, logo, ology
word, study, speech
catalog, prologue, dialogue, logogram (symbol
representing a word), zoology
loqu, locut
talk, speak
eloquent, loquacious, colloquial,
circumlocution
luc, lum, lus, lun
light
translucent, luminary, luster, luna (moon
goddess)
macr-, macer
lean
emaciated, meager
magn
great
magnify, magnificent, magnanimous,
magnate, magnitude, magnum
man
hand
manual, manage, manufacture, manacle,
manicure, manifest, maneuver, emancipate
mand
command
mandatory, remand, mandate
mania
madness
mania, maniac, kleptomania, pyromania
mar, mari, mer
sea, pool
marine, marsh, maritime, mermaid
matri
mother
matrimony, maternal, matriarchate, matron
medi
half, middle,
between, halfway
mediate, medieval, Mediterranean, mediocre,
medium
mega
great
megaphone, megalopolis, megacycle (a
million cycles), megaton
mem
remember
memo, commemoration, memento, memoir,
memorable
meter
measure
meter, voltammeter, barometer, thermometer
micro
small
microscope, microfilm, microcard, microwave,
micrometer
migra
wander
migrate, emigrant, immigrate
mit, miss
send
emit, remit, submit, admit, commit, permit,
transmit, omit, intermittent, mission, missile
mob, mot, mov
move
mobile, motionless, motor
mon
warn, remind
monument, admonition, monitor, premonition
mor, mort
mortal, death
mortal, immortal, mortality, mortician, mortuary
morph
form
amorphous, dimorphic, metamorphosis,
morphology
multi
many, much
multifold, multilingual, multiped, multiply
nat, nasc
to be from, to spring
forth
innate, natal, native, renaissance
neo
new
Neolithic, nuveau riche, neologism, neophyte,
neonate
neur
nerve
neuritis, neuropathic, neurologist, neural,
neurotic
nom
law, order
autonomy, astronomy, gastronomy, economy
nomen, nomin
name
nomenclature, nominate, ignominious
nov
new
novel, renovate, novice, nova, innovate
nox, noc
night
nocturnal, equinox, noctilucent
numer
number
numeral, numeration, enumerate, innumerable
numisma
coin
numismatics
oligo
few, little
Oligocene, oligosaccharide, oligotrophic,
oligarchy
omni
all, every
omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent,
omnivorous
onym
name
anonymous, pseudonym, antonym, synonym
oper
work
operate, cooperate, opus
ortho
straight, correct
orthodox, orthodontist, orthopedic, unorthodox
pac
peace
pacifist, pacify, pacific ocean
paleo
old
Paleozoic, Paleolithic, paleomagnetism,
paleopsychology
pan
all
Pan-American, pan-African, panacea,
pandemonium (place of all the demons),
pater, patr
father
paternity, patriarch, patriot, patron, patronize
path, pathy
feeling, suffering
pathos, sympathy, antipathy, apathy, telepathy
ped, pod
foot
pedal, impede (get feet in a trap), pedestrian,
centipede, tripod, podiatry, antipode
pedo
child
orthopedic, pedagogue, pediatrics
pel, puls
drive, urge
compel, dispel, expel, repel, propel, pulse,
impulse, pulsate, compulsory, expulsion,
repulsive
pend, pens, pond
hang, weigh
pendant, pendulum, suspend, appendage,
pensive
phage
eat
macrophage, bacteriophage
phil
love
philosophy, philanthropy, philharmonic,
bibliophile
phlegma
inflammation
phlegm, phlegmatic
phobia, phobos
fear
phobia, claustrophobia, acrophobia,
aquaphobia, ergophobia, homophobia
phon
sound
phonograph, phonetic, symphony,
homophone, euphonious
photo
light
photograph, photoelectric, photogenic,
photosynthesis
plac, plais
please
placid, placebo, placate, complacent
plu, plur, plus
more
plural, pluralist, plus
pneuma, pneumon
breath
pneumatic, pneumonia,
poli
city
metropolis, police, politics, Indianapolis,
megalopolis, acropolis
poly
many
polysaccharide, polyandrous, polytheistic
pon, pos, pound
place, put
postpone, component, opponent, proponent,
expose, impose, deposit, posture, position,
expound, impound
pop
people
population, populous, popular
port
carry
porter, portable, transport, report, export,
import, support, transportation
portion
part, share
portion, proportion
pot
power
potential, potentate, impotent
prehendere
seize, grasp
apprehend, comprehend, comprehensive,
prehensile
prim, prime
first
primacy, prima donna, primitive, primary,
primal, primeval
proto
first
prototype, protocol, protagonist, protozoan,
Proterozoic, protoindustrial
psych
mind, soul
psyche, psychiatry, psychology, psychosis
punct
point, dot
punctual, punctuation, puncture, acupuncture,
punctuation
reg, recti
straighten
regiment, regular, rectify, correct, direct,
rectangle
ri, ridi, risi
laughter
deride, ridicule, ridiculous, derision, risible
rog, roga
ask
prerogative, interrogation, derogatory
rupt
break
rupture, interrupt, abrupt, disrupt, ruptible
pod (see ped)
sacr, sanc, secr
sacred
sacred, sacrosanct, sanction, consecrate,
desecrate
salv, salu
safe, healthy
salvation, salvage, salutation
sat, satis
enough
satient (giving pleasure, satisfying), saturate,
satisfy
sci, scientia
know
science, conscious, omniscient, cognocienti
scope
see, watch
telescope, microscope, kaleidoscope,
periscope, stethoscope
scrib, script
write
scribe, scribble, inscribe, describe, subscribe,
prescribe, manuscript
sed, sess, sid
sit
sediment, session, obsession, possess,
preside, president, reside, subside
sen
old
senior, senator, senile
senescere
to grow old
senescence, evanescent
sent, sens
feel
sentiment, consent, resent, dissent,
sentimental, sense, sensation, sensitive,
sensory, dissension
sequ, secu, sue
follow
sequence, consequence, sequel, subsequent,
prosecute, consecutive, second, ensue,
pursue
serv
save, serve
servant, service, subservient, servitude,
preserve, conserve, reservation, deserve,
conservation, observe
sign, signi
sign, mark, seal
signal, signature, design, insignia, significant
simil, simul
like, resembling
similar, assimilate, simulate, simulacrum,
simultaneous
sist, sta, stit
stand
assist, persist, circumstance, stamina, status,
state, static, stable, stationary, substitute
solus
alone
solo, soliloquy, solitaire, solitude
solv, solu
loosen
solvent, solve, absolve, resolve, soluble,
solution, resolution, resolute, dissolute
somnus
sleep
insomnia, somnambulist
soph
wise
sophomore (wise fool), philosophy,
sophisticated
spec, spect, spic
look
specimen, specific, spectator, spectacle,
aspect, speculate, inspect, respect, prospect,
retrospective, introspective, expect,
conspicuous
sphere
ball, sphere
sphere, stratosphere, hemisphere, spheroid
spir
breath
spirit, conspire, inspire, aspire, expire,
perspire, respiration
string, strict
draw tight
stringent, strict, restrict, constrict, boa
constrictor
stru, struct
build
construe (build in the mind, interpret),
structure, construct, instruct, obstruct,
destruction, destroy
sume, sump
take, use, waste
consume, assume (to take, to use), sump
pump presumption (to take or use before
knowing all the facts
tact, tang, tag, tig, ting
touch
tactile, contact, intact, intangible, tangible,
contagious, contiguous
tele
far
telephone, telegraph, telegram, telescope,
television, telephoto, telecast, telepathy
tempo
time
tempo, temporary, extemporaneously,
contemporary, pro tem, temporal
ten, tin, tain
hold
tenacious, tenant, tenure, untenable,
detention, retentive, content, pertinent,
continent, obstinate, contain, abstain, pertain,
detain
tend, tent, tens
stretch, strain
tendency, extend, intend, contend, pretend,
superintend, tender, extent, tension, pretense
terra
earth
terrain, terrarium, territory, terrestrial
test
to bear witness
testament, detest, testimony, attest
the, theo
God, a god
monotheism, polytheism, atheism, theology
therm
heat
thermometer, theorem, thermal, thermos
bottle, thermostat, hypothermia
thesis, thet
place, put
antithesis, hypothesis, synthesis, epithet
tom
cut
atom (not cuttable), appendectomy,
tonsillectomy, dichotomy, anatomy
tort, tors
twist
torture (twisting to inflict pain) retort, extort,
distort, contort, torsion, tortuous, torturous
tox
poison
toxic, intoxicate, antitoxin
tract, tra
draw, pull
tractor, attract, subtract, tractable, abstract,
subtrahend
tom
cut
atom (not cutable, smallest particle of matter),
appendectomy, tonsillectomy, dichotomy,
anatomy
tort, tors
twist
torture (twisting to inflict pain), retort, extort
(twist out), distort, contort, torsion
tox
poison
toxic, intoxicate, antitoxin
tract, tra
draw, pull
tractor, attract, traction, subtract, tractable,
abstract (to draw away), subtrahend (the
number to be drawn away from another).
trib
pay, bestow
tribute, contribute, attribute, retribution,
tributary
turbo
disturb
turbulent, disturb, turbid, turmoil
typ
print
type, prototype, typical, typography,
typewriter, typology, typify
ultima
last
ultimate, ultimatum
umber, umbraticum
shadow
umbra, penumbra, (take) umbrage, adumbrate
uni
one
unicorn, unify, university, unanimous,
universal
vac
empty
vacate, vacuum, evacuate, vacation, vacant,
vacuous
vale, vali, valu
strength, worth
equivalent, valiant, validity, evaluate, value,
valor
ven, vent
come
convene, intervene, venue, convenient,
avenue, circumvent, invent, convent, venture,
event, advent, prevent
ver, veri
true
very, aver, verdict, verity, verify, verisimilitude
vert, vers
turn
avert, divert, invert, introvert, convertible,
reverse, controversy, versatile
vic, vicis
change, substitute
vicarious, vicar, vicissitude
vict, vinc
conquer
victor, evict, convict, convince, invincible
vid, vis
see
video, evident, provide, providence, visible,
revise, supervise, vista, visit, vision
viv, vita, vivi
alive, life
revive, survive, vivid, vivacious, vitality,
vivisection
voc
call
vocation, avocation, convocation, invocation,
evoke, provoke, revoke, advocate,
provocative, vocal
vol
will
malevolent, benevolent, volunteer, volition
volcan
fire
volcano, vulcanize, Vulcan
volvo
turn about, roll
revolve, voluble (easily turned about or around
or talkative), voluminous, convolution
vor
eat greedily
voracious, carnivorous, herbivorous,
omnivorous, devour
zo
animal
zoo (short for zoological garden), zoology,
zoomorphism (attributing animal form to god),
zodiac (circle of animal constellations),
protozoan
Vocabulary from Classical Roots Norma Fifer/Nancy Flowers EPS 800-225-5750
Red Hot Root Words Diane Draze DandyLion Press DL127
Vocabulary Development Using Roots and Riddles Claudia Vurnakes F. Schafer Pub.
Words on the Vine Claudia Vurnakes TS Denison/Instructional Fair
Word Wise/Word Strength/Word Building Joan Robinson Fearon Press
Suffix
Meaning
Example
able, ible
able, capable
capable, agreeable, edible, visible
ade
result of action
blockade
age
act of, state of,
result of
storage, wreckage, damage
al
relating to
gradual, manual, natural
algia
pain
neuralgia, nostalgia, myalgia
an, ian
native of, relating
to
African, riparian,
ance, ancy
action, process,
state
assistance, allowance, defiance
ary, ery, ory
relating to,
quality, place
where
aviary, bravery, dormitory
cian
possessing a
specific skill or art
magician, physician,
cy
action, function
hesitancy, prophecy, normalcy
cule, ling
very small
molecule, ridicule, animalcule, duckling,
sapling
dom
quality, realm
freedom, kingdom, wisdom
ee
one who receives
the action
refugee, nominee, lessee
en
made of, to make
silken, frozen, wooden
ence, ency
action, state of,
quality
difference, confidence, urgency, agency
er, or
one who, that
which
baker, miller, professor
escent
in the process of
adolescent, senescence, putrescence
ese
a native of, the
language of
Javanese, Japanese, Balinese
esis, osis
action, process,
condition
genesis, hypnosis, neurosis, osmosis
ess
female
goddess, lioness, actress
et, ette
small one, group
midget, baronet, sextet, lorgnette
fic
making, causing
scientific, specific
ful
full of
frightful, careful, helpful
fy
make
beautify, fortify, simplify
hood
order, condition,
quality
manhood, adulthood
ic
nature of, like
metallic, acidic, bucolic, simplistic
ice
condition, state,
quality
justice, malice
id, ide
a thing connected
with or belonging
to
fluid, fluoride, bromide
ile
relating to, suited
for, capable of
juvenile, senile, purile, missile
ine
nature of
feminine, genuine, medicine
ion, sion, tion
act, result, or
state of
cancellation, contagion, infection, crenellation
ish
origin, nature,
resembling
foolish, Irish, clownish, impish
ism
system, manner,
condition,
characteristic
alcoholism, communism, capitalism,
ist
one who, that
which
artist, dentist, flautist
ite
nature of, quality
of, mineral
product
prelate, Mennonite, dynamite, graphite,
Israelite
ity, ty
state of, quality
celebrity, captivity, clarity, poverty
ive
causing, making
abusive, exhaustive, abortive
ize, ise
make
emphasize, exercise, bowdlerize, bastardize,
idolize, fanaticize
logy
study, science,
theory
biology, anthropology, geology, neurology
ly
like, manner of
carelessly, fearlessly, hopelessly
ment
act of, state or,
result
containment, contentment, amendment
ness
state of
carelessness, restlessness
nomy
law
autonomy, economy, taxonomy
oid
resembling
asteroid, spheroid, rhomboid, anthropoid
ous
full of, having
gracious, nervous, pompous,
ship
state of, office,
assistantship, friendship, authorship
quality
some
like, apt, tending
to
lonesome, lissome, threesome, gruesome
tude
state of, condition
of
gratitude, aptitude, multitude
ure
state of, act,
process, rank
culture, literature, rupture, rapture
ward
in the direction of
eastward, downward, backward
y
inclined to, tend
to
cheery, crafty, faulty
Common Phrases
Semper Fidelis
Always faithful.
Carpe diem sieze the day
Circa About
Ex libris
In toto
from the books of
altogether
In vino veritas
In memoriam
in wine is truth
in memory of
Magna cum laude with great honor
Mea culpa
Non sequitor
my fault
a statement that does not follow logically
Pax vobiscum peace be with you
Per capita per head
Per annum
Tabula rasa
per year
a clean slate
Terra firma
solid ground
Via media
the middle way
Et cetera = (L. and the rest of such things) and other things; and so forth
Et al
= (L. et alii) and others;
E.g.
= (L. “exempli gratia”) for example;
I.e.
= (L. id est) that is;
Ibid
= (L. ibidem, from the same place) referring to something mentioned
previously, particularly used for footnotes;
Ergo
= therefore, hence.
means 'it is' or 'that is', so it's pretty much a literal translation.
Memory Aid: Think of 'i.e.' as standing for 'it es', i.e., pronounce 'is' a little funny.
Use 'e.g.' when you want to mean 'for example' or 'such as'. 'e.g' stands for 'exemplum
gratia', which more or less means 'for example.
Memory Aid: Think of 'e.g.' as standing for 'example gratis' (free example) or
'e.g.zample'.
Use 'et al.' when you want to mean 'and others'. This is an abbreviation for 'et alii/alia',
which literally means 'and others'. This abbreviation is used most often when you want to
shorten a list of people, often authors of an article, e.g., 'Jones et al. found that global
warming is happening.'
Notice that adding 'et al.' to Jones's name means 'Jones and some other people he worked
with', so you have to make sure your verb is plural to agree with the subject.
Notice that 'et' is not an abbreviation and does not have a period after it.
Use 'etc.' sparingly in formal writing. You probably know that 'etc.' stands for 'et cetera',
literally 'and the rest'; figuratively 'and so on'. Students and lazy writers often make the
mistake of using 'etc.' when they can't think of a third item to put in a series. You should
come up with concrete examples to fill out your list rather than use 'etc.' If you do use
'etc.', it should be at the end of a list of at least two, better three, items. Example 'bread,
soda, milk, etc.'. Never mention one thing and add 'etc.' because although 'etc.' means
'and so on' it should only be used to imply the next item in a logical series. Therefore
saying 'milk etc.' doesn't give you enough of an idea of what to expect next.
Always use a comma after 'i.e.' and 'e.g.' when used in a sentences. Because of what they
mean, 'i.e.' and 'e.g.' are parenthetical phrases that need to be followed up with a comma.
Typically, you should italicize 'i.e.', 'e.g.', and 'et al.', but not 'etc.'. This rule may vary
based on what discipline, genre, or medium you are writing for or in.
6
7
Latin prefixes
Cardinal Multiple Distributive Ordinal
semidemi-[2]
—
[3]
unisimsingulprimsesquidubi-, bis- binsecondtriterterntertiquadri-,
quater- quaternquartquadru-[5]
quin-,
quinquequintiquinquensexa-[6]
sensextseptem-, septiseptenseptim-
8
octo-
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
novemnovendecem-, decdenundec-, unden-, undecimduodecduodentredec-, etc.
quattuordecquinquadec-, quindecsedec-,
sexdec- (but hexadecimal[6])
septendecoctodecnovemdec-,
novendecvicen-,
vigintivigen-
Number
½
1
1½
2
3
4
5
16
17
18
19
20*
octon-
Greek prefixes
Cardinal
Multiple
hemihen-[4]
mono-, haplo-[4]
di-, dytri-
distris-
tetra-
tetrakis-
penta-
pentakis-
hexaheptaogdo-,
octavocta-, octononaenneadecimdecahendecaduodecim- dodecatriskaidecatetrakaidecapentakaidecahexakaideca-,
hexadecaheptakaidecaoctakaideca-
hexakisheptakisoctakisenneakisdecakisundecakisdodecakistridecakistetradecakispentadecakishexadecakis-
enneakaidecavigesim-
icosa-, icosi-,
eicosakiseicosa-
I Have, Who Has
1 (I have “to watch)
2 Begin here: Start: Who has the prefix that means
“six”?
I have “hexa” Who has the root that means “light”?
I have “photo”. Who has the root word meaning “to hear”?
I have “audi”. Who has the meaning of “-phobia”?
I have “fear”. Who has the prefix meaning “life”?
I have “bio-“. Who has the meaning of the root word “aster”?
I have “star”.
Who has the root that means “ship” or “sailor”?
I have “naut” or ‘naus”. Who has the meaning of the prefix
“corpus-“?
I have “body”. Who has the prefixes that mean “nine”?
I have “ennea-“ and “nona-“. Who has the meaning of the root
word “anthro-“?
I have “man”. Who has the meaning of the suffix “-ology”?
I have “the study of”. Who has the suffix which means “female”
(as in lioness, Goddess, actress)?
I have “-ess” as in waitress. Who has the prefix meaning “well”
or “good”?
I have “bene-“. Who has the prefix meaning “self”?
I have “auto-“. Who has the prefix for a four sided figure?
I have “quad”. Who has the root word meaning “to measure”?
I have “meter”. Who has the prefix meaning “earth”?
I have “geo”. Who has the meaning of the prefix “circum-“?
I have “around”. Who has the prefix which means “water”?
I have “aqua-“. Who has the root word meaning “foot”?
I have “ped”. Who has the meaning of the root work “biblio-“?
I have “book”. Who has the root word that means “war”?
I have “belli-“. Who has the prefix meaning “seven”?
I have “septa”.
Who has the meaning of the root word “cyclo-“?
I have “wheel” or “circle”. Who has the meaning of the root word
“scope”?
More Useful Latin
Sona si Latine loqueris.
Honk if you speak Latin.
Si Hoc Legere Scis Nimium Eruditionis Habes
If you can read this you're over-educated
Sentio aliquos togatos contra me conspirare.
I think some people in togas are plotting against me.
Vidi Vici Veni
I saw, I conquered, I came
Vacca foeda
Stupid cow
Mihi ignosce. Cum homine de cane debeo congredi.
Excuse me. I've got to see a man about a dog.
Raptus regaliter
Royally screwed
Si hoc signum legere potes, operis boni in rebus Latinus alacribus et fructuosis potiri
potes!
If you can read this sign, you can get a good job in the fast-paced, high-paying world of Latin!
Gramen artificiosum odi.
I hate Astroturf.
Nihil curo de ista tua stulta superstitione.
I'm not interested in your dopey religious cult.
Noli me vocare, ego te vocabo.
Don't call me, I'll call you.
Nullo metro compositum est.
It doesn't rhyme.
Non curo. Si metrum non habet, non est poema.
I don't care. If it doesn't rhyme, it isn't a poem.
Fac ut gaudeam.
Make my day.
Braccae illae virides cum subucula rosea et tunica Caledonia-quam elenganter
concinnatur!
Those green pants go so well with that pink shirt and the plaid jacket!
Visne saltare? Viam Latam Fungosam scio.
Do you want to dance? I know the Funky Broadway.
Re vera, potas bene.
Say, you sure are drinking a lot.
Utinam barbari spatium proprium tuum invadant!
May barbarians invade your personal space!
Utinam coniurati te in foro interficiant!
May conspirators assassinate you in the mall!
Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant!
May faulty logic undermine your entire philosophy!
Radix lecti
Couch potato
Quo signo nata es?
What's your sign?
O! Plus! Perge! Aio! Hui! Hem!
Oh! More! Go on! Yes! Ooh! Ummm!
Mellita, domi adsum.
Honey, I'm home.
Tam exanimis quam tunica nehru fio.
I am as dead as the nehru jacket.
Ventis secundis, tene cursum.
Go with the flow.
Totum dependeat.
Let it all hang out.
Te precor dulcissime supplex!
Pretty please with a cherry on top!
Magister Mundi sum!
I am the Master of the Universe!
Fac me cocleario vomere!
Gag me with a spoon!
Te audire no possum. Musa sapientum fixa est in aure.
I can't hear you. I have a banana in my ear.
Estne volumen in toga, an solum tibi libet me videre?
Is that a scroll in your toga, or are you just happy to see me?
Prehende uxorem meam, sis!
Take my wife, please!
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit
materiari?
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
Nihil est--in vita priore ego imperator Romanus fui.
That's nothing--in a previous life I was a Roman Emperor.
Recedite, plebes! Gero rem imperialem!
Stand aside plebians! I am on imperial business.
Vescere bracis meis.
Eat my shorts.
Sic faciunt omnes.
Everyone is doing it.
Fac ut vivas.
Get a life.
Anulos qui animum ostendunt omnes gestemus!
Let's all wear mood rings!
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane
mittam.
I have a catapult. Give me all the money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head.
Figures of Speech for Writing Poetry and
Prose
Caleb’s Creek AG 2010-2011
Figures of speech are various devices used by writers to make their works
more interesting, more meaningful, more evocative, and more thoughtful.
They are different from types of writing (narrative, persuasive, poetic,
descriptive, expository), forms of writing (essay, story, poem ((in its many
forms such as limerick, haiku, sonnet)), novel, drama, screenplay, research
paper, letters, resume, short story, novella, abstracts), and genre (historical
fiction, mystery, realistic fiction, non-fiction, science fiction, fantasy,
autobiography, myths, legends, fairy tales, romance, folktales, biography
etc), * Sometimes forms of writing and genre are intermingled. For our
discussions we will use the above lists as reference.
Following are some of the figures of speech we will learn in AG. Some are
more common than others and you already know them. However, the more
types you know and the more often you use different types, the more
interesting your writing will be. You will also be better able to understand
authors’ deeper meanings in their works.
Figures of Speech:
The Big Five:
1) Metaphor: an implied comparison between two objects or people.
Ex: “the moon was a kind face smiling down on us” or “she has the
heart of a lion”. The ability to use metaphors is, perhaps, the most
important skill a writer can develop.
2) Simile: compares two unlike items using ‘like’ and ‘as’. Ex: “her
hair is like cotton candy”; “he is as strong as an ox”.
3) Imagery: vivid, sensory description. Imagery is the use of language
to invite readers to sense, (smell, see, hear, feel and be a part of), a
writer’s work. This is an essential skill for writers. Ex: “The taste of
that first defeat was bitter and cold.”
4) Personification: giving human qualities to animals or objects. Ex:
“the sun smiled on us, while the mountains reached to cover us with
their shadows”.
5) Irony: while there are three types of irony, we will focus on ‘verbal
irony’. In verbal irony there is a difference between what is said and
what is meant. For example: you could say: “that sure was a great
book” when, in fact you meant the opposite (sarcasm is often ironic).
Or, seeing someone struggling to move a couch, someone could say:
“that looks like a lot of fun”.
Lesser, but very important Figures of Speech:
6) Hyperbole: exciting exaggeration. Ex: “And fired the shot heard
‘round the world.”
7) Overstatement and understatement: irony is often the effect of
understatement and overstatement. Ex: having just hit the winning
home run, the girl says, “I guess my coach will like that”.
8) Meiosis: a kind of humorous understatement that is intended to
belittle or dismiss by making it seem less important than it should be;
also, to degrade or belittle using epithets or invective;
9) Metonymy: substitution of a word or phrase to stand for another. Ex:
“the bill passed the Senate but the White House has not issued a
statement” ….in this case “the White House” means “the President”;
10)
Paradox: a statement that is not logical and may seem
ridiculous. Ex: “this is the beginning of the end”; or “they must go to
war to make peace”.
11)
Alliteration: the repetition of consonant sounds at the
beginning of words. Ex: “buckets of big blue berries”.
12)
Consonance: closely related to alliteration, is the repetition of
consonant sounds near the end of words in a phrase or sentence. Ex:
“some mammals are clammy”.
13)
Assonance: also close to alliteration, this is the repetition of
vowel sounds in a phrase or sentence. Ex: “the old oar of oak rowed
the boat” (hear the long ‘o’ sound repeated?)
14)
Onomatopoeia: the use of a word to imitate the sound made
by an object or action. Ex: “lion roared”, “bees buzzed”, “cannon
boomed”.
Figures of Speech that are types of Words or Ideas:
15)
Oxymoron: two words or phrases that are really opposites.
Ex: “accurate estimate”, “awfully nice”, “little giant”, “small crowd”.
Oxymorons can be used to add a twist and interest to writing.
16)
Jargon: (very similar to slang) words that are specific to a
subject and only understood within a special group. Ex: “I can’t
seem to scroll on my mouse.” (computer talk), or “we got the perp!”
(police talk). When using dialogue, it is very important to learn the
jargon of the characters you are writing about.
17)
Euphemism: a nicer way of saying something, or using a
pleasant word to stand for an unpleasant one. Ex: “between jobs”
instead of “unemployed”, or “lose your lunch” instead of “vomit”.
These are helpful in dialogue to establish the quality of a character.
18)
Puns: a play on words that is usually funny. Ex: “at
McDonald’s Patty felt shaken and fried up by the end of her shift”.
19)
Idioms: words and phrases that have come to mean something
quite different than what they seem. Ex: “chew the fat”, “a piece of
cake”, “cry wolf”, “on pins and needles”.
20)
Analogies: comparing two words in a similar way that two
others are compared, (in math this is very much like proportions…two
ratios, which each compare two numbers, are equal: 3:4::6:8….three
is to four as six is to eight, or 3/4 = 6/8)….Ex: “the captain is to his
ship as the chief is to his tribe”. ***There are several kinds of
analogies…..two of the most common are synonyms and antonyms,
but there are also contronyms (one word that has two opposite
meanings), homonyms (words with same spelling and pronunciation
but different meanings), homophones (same sound, different
meanings), homographs (same spelling, different meanings),
cause/effect; item to collection and many more.
21)
Cliches are very much like idioms except that they are so
commonly used that they have lost their interest and are only useful to
create a sense of dullness regarding a character, via his/her dialogue.
Ex: “skinny as a rail”, “white as a ghost”.
22)
Slang the special and very informal vocabulary of a group with
common interests (such as burglars), usually thought to be language
that is unacceptable in proper language and may even be vulgar.
23)
Vernacular is the native language or speech common to a
particular area, or to a social or professional group.
24)
Colloquialisms are words or expressions that occur in informal
conversation, but would be out of place in formal conversation.
25)
Parody is a humorous or satirical imitation of a person, event
or literary work; they may be a simple phrase or a full literary piece;
Yet, More Ways to Enrich Your Writing with Figures of
Speech
26)
Conceit is a fanciful metaphor that likens one thing to
something else that is seemingly very different as in Shakespeare’s
“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day” or Dickinson’s “There is no
frigate like a book.”
27)
Litotes is a figure of speech involving understatement created
by creating a positive statement by contradicting its opposite as in
“not bad at all” to mean “good”.
28)
Extended metaphor is the continuation of a metaphor through
a work by making many comparisons of unlike objects or images.
29)
Antithesis is the direct opposite or the placing of opposing
parts of a sentence in order to achieve a balance of ideas as in “Give
me liberty or give me death.”
30)
Mixed metaphor is the use of two or more metaphors which
are illogical when combined such as: “The President will put the ship
of state on its feet.”
31)
Chiasmus is a figure of speech in which the second half
reverses the order of the first half as in “for we that live to please,
must please to live;
32)
Zeugma is a figure of speech in which a verb or adjective is
applied to two nouns, but where one application is inappropriate e.g.
(for example) “with weeping eyes and hearts”.
33)
Prolepsis is foreshadowing or anticipation; a figure of speech
in which a future act is shown to be already accomplished or existing
(“I believe you will succeed.”).
Others to be considered include: allusion (passing or casual reference to),
connotation (the associated or secondary meaning to a word or expression)
and denotation (the exact meaning of a word or expression), innuendo (an
indirect suggestion about a person or thing that is usually intended to
disparage), malapropisms (misuse of words by confusing meanings of words
that are similar in sound as with “He was a man of great statue” or “he had
to use a fire distinguisher.”), anagrams (words or phrases made by mixing
up the letters of other words or phrases as in “the eyes” for “they see”),
adages (a traditional saying expressing a common experience; a proverb),
spoonerisms (the often unintentional switching of sounds in words such as
“a blushing crow” instead of a “crushing blow”), anaphora (repetition of
words or phrases at the beginning of successive sentences for emphasis as in
Lincoln’s “We cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow
this ground”), aphorisms (a strong or terse saying that contains a general
truth such as “power tends to corrupt”), epigrams (any witty, ingenious or
pointed saying strongly or harshly expressed…..similar to sarcasm),
palindromes (a verse, line, word or number that reads the same forwards or
backwards as in “Madam I’m Adam”), allegory (the representation of
abstractions through material and concrete forms) and more. It is important
to practice figures of speech and to look for them in others’ work. Figures
of speech make our language and literature much richer and more
interesting. Please consider using them in your writing and speaking.
Figures of speech are of such importance that they must always occupy
a prominent place in every treatise on style or criticism.
1. Though differing in special character or effects, they all have one
thing in common, and that is, they contribute beyond anything else to
the embellishment of style. Some create a picture before the mind;
others gratify the sense of proportion; others adorn the subject by
contrasting it with some other which is like or unlike; and thus in
various ways they appeal to the aesthetical sensibilities.
2. They contribute to perspicuity, by the power which many of them
have of throwing fresh light upon a subject by presenting it in a new
and unexpected form. This is especially the case with comparison,
metaphor, and example, and many others of the figures of relativity,
which are used by writers who would never adopt them merely for
ornament. They are used to illustrate a subject, which thus gains a
clearness that could be given in no other way.
3. They add to the persuasiveness of style. They give variety to it, by
enabling the author to change his form of expression at will. Thus a
perpetual freshness and vivacity is the result, together with an
attractive brilliancy. Old thoughts, which have lost their force through
familiarity, may thus be rendered striking by assuming a novel shape,
under which they have all the force of an original statement.
4. In the whole world of literature, both ancient and modern, figures of
speech occupy a foremost place. The Sacred Scriptures abound in
them, because the Hebrew mind delighted in Oriental imagery.
Nowhere can be found such an immense number of figures so
effectively presented. Antithesis and parallel embrace all the poetry
and no little of the prose of both the Old and New Testament. A place
only less prominent is held by figures in the literature of Greece and
Rome. The most famous passages of poetry--epic, lyric, and dramatic-
-the noblest strains of eloquence, the most vivid descriptions, all
exhibit their presence and effective force.
Not the least sign of their power may be perceived in the common language
of every-day life. Every one uses exclamation, interrogation, comparison,
metaphor, hyperbole, climax, vision; the figures of amplification and
extenuation are indispensable in eager, animated conversation; so also are
iteration, emphasis, periphrasis, litotes. All these and many more are
incessantly used; and always indicate vivacity or energy. This fact shows
that while art and elaboration can make the highest use of figurative
language, nature also resorts to it; and as nature has invented it, so she
prompts its use and shows its effectiveness.