AP English Language and Composition

meiosis Definition 1. a figure of speech that is saying less than what is truly meant (understatement) 2. sometimes used as another word for litotes 3. in biology, a process of cell division (two nuclear divisions in rapid succession) in sexually reproducing organisms resulting in forming four gametocytes with half the number of chromosomes of the somatic cells Sentences 1. In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, In Act II, scene i, when Mercutio describes his mortal wound as "not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church door; but 'tis enough, 'twill serve," he is using meiosis. 2. Some sources use the terms meiosis and litotes interchangeably. 3. We studied meiosis in our science course. metaphor 1. a figure of speech that directly compares one thing to another, without the use of "like" or "as" Example: He's a bear in the mornings. (Meaning he is grumpy and gruff) Example: She's drowning in homework. (Meaning there is so much homework, she is overwhelmed) 00:00 01:17 extended metaphor 1. a comparison of two things that goes beyond one line of text conceit 1. in literature, another word for extended metaphor 2. vanity or smug self-satisfaction (pride, self-importance, arrogance) 3. a fanciful idea or notion onomatopoeia 1. a word created from the sound that is associated with the object, idea, or action oxymoron 1. a figure of speech that uses contradictory terms placed side by side for effect paralipsis 1. the rhetorical device of professing to say little or nothing of a subject (the pretense of passing over information), but in essence, you are drawing attention to the information, as in not to mention that it cost us a fortune pathetic fallacy 1. treating an inanimate object as if it had human feelings or ideas periphrasis 1. using more words when one (or few) words will do (wordiness, circumlocution) personification 1. placing human attributes on things or ideas, for effect 2. the act of personifying anthropomorphism 1. giving animals or gods human attributes pantheism 1. the view that nature and the universe are God pun 1. a humorous play on words; there are many types of puns, including a recursive pun, compound pun, homographic pun, homonymic pun, and homophonic pun. Example: Shakespeare used many puns; in Julius Caesar, a cobbler, when asked what he did, said in reply, I am a mender of men's soles (souls). sarcasm 1. mocking, often contemptuous and bitter, ironic words simile 1. a figure of speech comparing two unlike things while using the words "like" or "as" synaesthesia 1. also spelled synesthesia, in literature, using one sense to describe another, i.e. "a prickly sound" or "it sounded wooly" 2. in science, when one sense evokes another, i.e. when you hear a sound, and it makes the individual see a color synecdoche 1. in literature, a figure of speech where a part describes a whole repudiate 1. refuse to accept (reject, disclaim, renounce, deny, disown, disavow) orator 1. a person with pubic speaking skills 2. a person delivering a speech paragon 1. perfect example (model, ideal, archetype) [noun] 2. to compare with [verb]