The Cat in the Hat



The Cat in the Hat

Latin to English

Cattus Petasatus The Cat with the Traveling Cap On

Imber totum diem fluit All day the rain pours

Urcretim semper pluit. Always raining by the bucket.

Taedet intus nos manere: It wearies us to remain inside:

Numquam potest sol splendere, Never is the sun able to shine,

Desidesque sic sedemus, And so we desire to sit,

Nec ridemus, nec gaudemus. Neither laughing, nor glad.

Fore finem quiescendi If only there was something to do

Mihi spes est et sedendi Yet our hope is only to sit

Frigas vetat firas ire The cold prohibits going outside

Caelum vetat lascivire. The weather prohibits playfulness.

Domi sumus quiescentes, At home we are peaceful,

Nil omnino facientes. With nothing at all to do.

Dum sedemus otiose While sitting undisturbed

Somnulenti, stomachosi Tired, weary and angry

Dico Sarae displicere Said Sara it is displeasing

Mihi semper sic sedere. 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 So all we could do was to

And too cold to play ball. Sit! Sit! Sit! Sit!

So we sat in the house. And we did not like it,

We did nothing at all. 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, surrender |procedure, proceed, cede, concede, recede, 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, |

|pod (see ped) | | |

|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 |

|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 |storage, wreckage, damage |

| |of | |

|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, |aviary, bravery, dormitory |

| |place where | |

|cian |possessing a specific |magician, physician, |

| |skill or art | |

|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 |refugee, nominee, lessee |

| |action | |

|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 |Javanese, Japanese, Balinese |

| |of | |

|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 |fluid, fluoride, bromide |

| |belonging to | |

|ile |relating to, suited for, |juvenile, senile, purile, missile |

| |capable of | |

|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,|alcoholism, communism, capitalism, |

| |characteristic | |

|ist |one who, that which |artist, dentist, flautist |

|ite |nature of, quality of, |prelate, Mennonite, dynamite, graphite, Israelite |

| |mineral product | |

|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, quality |assistantship, friendship, authorship |

|some |like, apt, tending to |lonesome, lissome, threesome, gruesome |

|tude |state of, condition of |gratitude, aptitude, multitude |

|ure |state of, act, process, |culture, literature, rupture, rapture |

| |rank | |

|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 from the books of

In toto altogether

In vino veritas in wine is truth

In memoriam in memory of

Magna cum laude with great honor

Mea culpa my fault

Non sequitor a statement that does not follow logically

Pax vobiscum peace be with you

Per capita per head

Per annum per year

Tabula rasa 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.

• Use 'i.e.' to mean 'that is' or 'in other words'. 'i.e.' actually stands for 'id est', which 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.

• 2

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'.

• 3

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.

• 4

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.

• 5

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.

• 6

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.

|Number |Latin prefixes |Greek prefixes | |

| |Cardinal |Multiple |Distributive |Ordinal |Cardinal |Multiple | |

|½ |semi- |demi-[2] |— |hemi- | |

|1 |uni- |sim-[3] |singul- |prim- |hen-[4] |mono-, haplo-[4] | |

|1½ | |sesqui- | | | | | |

|2 |du- |bi-, bis- |bin- |second- |di-, dy- |dis- | |

|3 |tri- |ter- |tern- |terti- |tri- |tris- | |

|4 |quadri-, |quater- |quatern- |quart- |tetra- |tetrakis- | |

| |quadru-[5] | | | | | | |

|5 |quinque- |quin-, |quinti- |penta- |pentakis- | |

| | |quinquen- | | | | |

|6 |sexa-[6] |sen- |sext- |hexa- |hexakis- | |

|7 |septem-, septi- |septen- |septim- |hepta- |heptakis- | |

|8 |octo- |octon- |octav- |ogdo-, |octakis- | |

| | | | |octa-, octo- | | |

|9 |novem- |noven- |nona- |ennea- |enneakis- | |

|10 |decem-, dec- |den- |decim- |deca- |decakis- | |

|11 |undec-, unden-, undecim- |hendeca- |undecakis- | |

|12 |duodec- |duoden- |duodecim- |dodeca- |dodecakis- | |

|13 |tredec-, etc. |triskaideca- |tridecakis- | |

|14 |quattuordec- |tetrakaideca- |tetradecakis- | |

|15 |quinquadec-, quindec- |pentakaideca- |pentadecakis- | |

|16 |sedec-, |hexakaideca-, |hexadecakis- | |

| |sexdec- (but hexadecimal[6]) |hexadeca- | | |

|17 |septendec- |heptakaideca- | | |

|18 |octodec- |octakaideca- | | |

|19 |novemdec-, |enneakaideca- | | |

| |novendec- | | | |

|20* |viginti- |vicen-, |vigesim- |icosa-, icosi-, |eicosakis- | |

| | |vigen- | |eicosa- | | |

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.

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