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Exaggeration is the representation of something as more extreme or dramatic than it is, intentionally or unintentionally. It can be a rhetorical device or figure of speech, used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression.
Grotesque studies, Michelangelo Since at least the 18th century (in French and German, as well as English), grotesque has come to be used as a general adjective for the strange, mysterious, magnificent, fantastic, hideous, ugly, incongruous, unpleasant, or disgusting, and thus is often used to describe weird shapes and distorted forms such as Halloween masks.
Hyperbole is one of the most widely recognized and used forms of figurative language in everyday life. It is used heavily in advertising and entertainment. Advertisers use hyperbole to exaggerate the benefits of products to boost sales. Repetitive hyperbole is used in public relations to increase the popularity of a person or product. It is ...
Antanaclasis: a form of pun in which a word is repeated in two different senses. [16] Anthimeria: transformation of a word of a certain word class to another word class: such as a noun for a verb and vice versa. [17] Anthropomorphism: ascribing human characteristics to something that is not human, such as an animal or a god (see zoomorphism).
Parenthesis – an explanatory or qualifying word, clause, or sentence inserted into a passage that is not essential to the literal meaning. Parody – comic imitation of something or somebody. Paronomasia – a pun, a play on words, often for humorous effect. Pathos – the emotional appeal to an audience in an argument; one of Aristotle's ...
The word verbosity comes from Latin verbosus, "wordy". There are many other English words that also refer to the use of excessive words. Prolixity comes from Latin prolixus, "extended". Prolixity can also be used to refer to the length of a monologue or speech, especially a formal address such as a lawyer's oral argument. [2]
Some words that have a precise numerical definition can be used indefinitely. For example: couple (2), [21] dozen (12), score (20); myriad (10,000). When a quantity word is prefixed with an indefinite article then it is sometimes intended or interpreted to be indefinite. For example, "one million" is clearly definite, but "a million" could be ...
Palilalia is defined as the repetition of the speaker's words or phrases, often for a varying number of repeats. Repeated units are generally whole sections of words and are larger than a syllable, with words being repeated the most often, followed by phrases, and then syllables or sounds.