polyptoton Definition
- 1the rhetorical use of several forms of a word
- 2repetition of words derived from the same root but with different endings
Using polyptoton: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "polyptoton" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The phrase 'I dreamed a dream' is an example of polyptoton.
Example
In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Mark Antony says 'Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.'
Example
The sentence 'His pride knew no bounds, and he was bound to his own destruction' is an example of polyptoton.
polyptoton Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for polyptoton
Phrases with polyptoton
a form of speech in which a key word is repeated and used in a different, often contrary, way for a play on words
Example
In the famous quote by Benjamin Franklin, 'We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately,' the word 'hang' is used in two different senses.
the repetition of a word or phrase in immediate succession, typically within the same sentence, for emphasis
Example
In Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech, he repeats the phrase 'I have a dream' eight times for emphasis.
repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause
Example
In the famous quote by Yoda from Star Wars, 'Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.'
Origins of polyptoton
from Greek 'poly-' meaning 'many' and 'ptōtos' meaning 'fallen'
Summary: polyptoton in Brief
Polyptoton [pol-uh p-toh-ton] is a rhetorical device that involves the repetition of words derived from the same root but with different endings. It is used to create emphasis and draw attention to a particular point. Examples of polyptoton include phrases like 'I dreamed a dream' and 'Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.' Other related rhetorical devices include antanaclasis, epizeuxis, and anadiplosis.
