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absolute
a term applied to anything that cannot be modified, qualified, or limited
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abstract language
language describing ideas and qualitites rahter than observable or sp[ecific things, people or places.
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acerbic
acid in temper, mood, or tone
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adjective
words that describe nouns or pronouns telling which one, what kind, and how many
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adverb
a word typicaly serving as a modifier of a verb, an adjective, another ver, a preposition, a phrase, a clause, or a sentence, expressing some relation of manner or quality, place, time, degree, number, cause, opposition, affirmation, or denial, and in English also serving to connect and to express comment on clause content
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alliteration
the purposeful repetition of initial consonant sounds
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allusion
a reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art
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analogy
an explanation based upon a comparison that explains or describes one subject by pointing out its similarities to another subject
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anaphora
one of the devices of repetition in which the same expression (word or words) is repeated for effect at the beginnning of two or more lines, clauses, or sentences
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anecdote
a short, often autobiographical narrative told to achieve a purpose such as to provide an example, illustration, or thematic truth
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antecedent
the word preceding a pronoun to which it refers
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antithesis
a direct contrast of structurally parallel word groupings, generally for the purpose of contrast
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aphorism
a statement of some general principle, expressed memorable by condensing much wisdom into few words
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apostrophe
a figure of speech in which a speaker directly addresses an inanimate object or an absent person or a personified quality
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attitude
the author's feelings toward a subject that is revealed by tone
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chiasmus
parallel structure in inverted/ mirror form- two corresponding pairs arranged not in parallels
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conceit
an elaborate, complex metaphor or simile comparing two extremely dissimilar things
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circular reasoning
a form of fallacy also called begging the question where the argument may well be sound but the mistake it makes is that the argument merely assumes what it is trying to prove.
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concrete example
characterized by or beloning to immediate experience of actual things or events that are specific, particular, real, tangible
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cumulative sentence
loose sentence, this sentence makes complete sense if brought to a close before its actual ending. a cummulative or losse sentence begins with the main ideas and then expands on that idea with a series of details or other particulars
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cynicism
having or showing the attitude of being contemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives reflecting a belief that human conduct is motivated primarily by self-interest
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deductive reasoning
the deriving of a conclusion by reasoning; inference in which the conclusion about particulars follows necessarily from general or universal premises
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detached
exhibiting an aloof objectivity usually free from prejudice or self-interest
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didactic
a term used to describe fiction or nonfiction that teaches a specific lesson or moral or provides a model of correct behavior or thinking. a tone intended to instruct or moralize
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elevated language
being morally or entellectually on a high plane
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ellipsis
the deliberate omission of a word or words implied by the context and by the parallel structure
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fanciful
marked by unrestrained imagination rahter than by reason and experience
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hyperbole
a deliberate exaggeration or overstatement
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imagery
the descriptive or figurative language used in literarture to appeal to one or more of the five senses
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indict
to charge with a fault, offense, or crime
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inductive reasoning
inference of a generalized conclusion from particular instances
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jocular
jesting, playful, jolly
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losse sentence
same as cumulative
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metaphor
a figure of speech in which one thing is spoken of as though it were something else
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metaphysical
of or relating to the transcendant or to a reality beyond what is perceptible to the senses
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metonymy
figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it
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mock epic
a narrative poem that parodies the epic form and is usually used for satire
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objective
independent of individual bias or subjectivity; opposite of subjective
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oxymoron
a two-word fivure of speech that combines two opposing or contradictory ideas
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parable
short fictitious story that illustrates a moral attitude or a religious principle
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paradox
an assertion seemingly opposed to common sense, but that may have some truth in it
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parallelism
the repetition of a grammatical structure
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periodic sentence
sentence that places the main idea or central complete thought at the end of the sentence, after all introductory elements. effect is a kind of suspense, as the reader's attention is more propelled toward the end
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personification
figurative language in whicha non-human subject is given human characteristics
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pun
a play on words based on different meanings of words that sound alike
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poselytize
to recruit or convert especially to a new faith, institution or cause
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prudence
sagacity or shrewdness in the management of affairs
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qualifier
a word (such as usally, almost, often) or word group that limits or modifies the meaning of another word or word group
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simile
figure of speech in which like or as is used to make a comparison between tow basically unlike subjects
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subjective
modified or affected by personal views, experience, or background; opposite of objective
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subjunctive mood
expressed by verb froms (plural) that represent a state not as fact but as contingent or possible such as with doubt or desire
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surreal
havint the intense irrational reality of a dream
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syllepsis
construction in which one word seems to be in the same grammatical relation to two or more words but, in fact, is not
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syllogism
deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, minore premise, and a conclusion
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synechdoche
a from of metaphor in which a part of something is used to stand for hte whole thing
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syesthesia
the concurrent response of two or more of the senses to the stimulation of one
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tautology
unnecessary repetition of words
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verbal
word that combines characteristics of a verb with those of a noun or adjective
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