antiphrasis etymology

Etymology

• From Late Latin antiphrasis borrowing from Greek ἀντιφράσις (antiphrasis, "contradiction"), from ἀντί (anti, "against") + φράσις (phrasis, "speech").

Meaning

• The use of a word or phrase in the opposite sense from its literal meaning, for rhetorical or ironic effect.

Origin

The term "antiphrasis" was first used in the 4th century BC by the Greek philosopher Aristotle in his work "Rhetoric." Aristotle defined antiphrasis as "a figure of speech in which a word is used in a sense opposite to its proper meaning."

The use of antiphrasis as a literary device has been around for centuries. In ancient Greek literature, for example, the playwright Aristophanes often used antiphrasis in his plays to create humorous or satirical effects.

In English literature, antiphrasis has been used by authors such as William Shakespeare, Jonathan Swift, and George Orwell. For example, in Shakespeare's play "Hamlet," the character of Polonius uses antiphrasis when he says, "What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason, how infinite in faculty! In form and moving how express and admirable! In action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god! The beauty of the world, the paragon of animals—and yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? Man delights not me: no, nor woman neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so."

In this passage, Polonius is using antiphrasis to express his contempt for humanity. He says that man is "noble in reason," "infinite in faculty," and "the beauty of the world," but he then goes on to say that man "delights not me." This contradiction is an example of antiphrasis.

antiphrasis relate terms

• phrase

  Etymology is the study of the origin and development of words It involves examining the h

• phreno

  Etymology The word phreno originates from the Ancient Greek word phrēn which means

• anti

  Etymology The word anti has its origins in the Greek prefix ἀντί anti meanin

• antipasto

  Etymology The word antipasto is derived from the Italian words ante meaning before

• answer

  Etymology Meaning A response to a question or request Origin The word answer come

• anticipate

  Etymology Latin anticipare from ante before capere to take Literally meaning

• antique

  Etymology From Middle English antique anglicized loan word from Old French antique an

• irony

  Etymology Derived from Late Latin irōnĭa from Greek εἰρωνεία eirōneía

• control

  Etymology Latin controllus meaning check restraint French contrôle English

• technology

  Etymology of Technology The word technology originates from two Greek words Techn

• refrain

  Etymology Old French refraindre Medieval Latin refrangere Latin re back frang

• speed

  Etymology Speed comes from the Old English word spēd which means success prosper

• gender

  Etymology The word gender derives from the Latin word genus which means kind or t

• Angle

  Etymology The word angle comes from the Old English word angel meaning hook Mea

• honor

  Etymology The word honor traces its roots back to the Latin word honor which has a c

• rhetoric

  Etymology The word rhetoric comes from the Greek word rhētorikē derived from rhē