rhetoric
Contents
EnglishEdit
Alternative formsEdit
- rhetorick (obsolete)
EtymologyEdit
Borrowed from Old French rhetorique, from Latin rhētorica, from Ancient Greek ῥητορική (rhētorikḗ), ellipsis of ῥητορικὴ τέχνη (rhētorikḕ tékhnē), from ῥητορικός (rhētorikós, “concerning public speech”), from ῥήτωρ (rhḗtōr, “public speaker”).
PronunciationEdit
AdjectiveEdit
rhetoric
- Synonym of rhetorical.
NounEdit
rhetoric (countable and uncountable, plural rhetorics)
- The art of using language, especially public speaking, as a means to persuade.
- Meaningless language with an exaggerated style intended to impress.
- It’s only so much rhetoric.
Usage notesEdit
- Adjectives often applied to "rhetoric": political, legal, visual, classical, ancient, violent, empty, inflammatory, hateful, heated, fiery, vitriolic, angry, overheated, extreme.
SynonymsEdit
Derived termsEdit
Related termsEdit
TranslationsEdit
art of using language for persuasion
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meaningless language
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