Mr. A's Glossary
This glossary contains definitions for words used throughout the website. If you have a suggestion of a word that should be included here, please e-mail me at tim@mr-anderson.com.
Browse the glossary using this index
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | ALL
A |
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allegoryA metaphorical narrative in prose or verse in which fictional figures and actions usually represent truths or generalizations about human existence. | |
alliteration
The repetition of of initial vowels or consonants at the
beginning of words (e.g., winter
wind, slurp and
soul, or omit and open. | |
allusiona reference to a famous person, place, event, or work of literature. | |
alphabetic principleThe assumption underlying alphabetic writing systems that each speech sound or phoneme of a language has its own distinctive graphic representation. | |
ambiguitiesStatements or arguments used in a work that may have more than one meaning or interpretation. | |
amphibrachArray | |
amphimacerArray | |
analogyA method of explaining something unfamiliar by using a comparison of similar, more familiar things; a form of reasoning in which one thing is inferred to be similar to another thing in a certain respect, on the basis of the known similarity between the things in other respects (e.g., part to whole, synonym and antonym, degree or cause and effect). | |
anapesta three-syllable foot with the stress on the third. | |
anecdoteA brief narrative of an interesting, unusual or biographical event often used to illustrate a point. | |
antagonistThe character (or force) that opposes the protagonist. | |
antonym
A word opposite in meaning to another word Example:
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apostropheArray | |
appeal to authorityTo call upon an individual or other source as an expert to give credence to an argument made by an author of a work. | |
appeal to emotionWhen a speaker or writer builds an argument using expressive language or other devices instead of presenting evidence; a fallacy in arguments | |
appeal to reasonTo call upon a reader's ability to think in a rational way in order to cause a change in his or her thoughts. | |
aptronymA person's name that matches it's owner's occupation or character
very well (either in fiction or reality) Examples:
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assonanceThe close repetition of middle vowel sounds (e.g., stony and holy). | |
autoantonymA word that can take two (or more) opposite meanings; Examples:
• Often hyphenated as auto-antonym. | ||
autonym1. A word that describes itself Examples:
3. A name by which a social group or race refers to itself. •From Greek auto (=self). | ||
B |
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bacronymThe reverse of producing an acronym; taking a word which already
exists and creating a phrase (usually humorous) using the letters
of the word as initials Examples:
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bait and switchA tactic in which a customer is attracted by the advertisement of a low-priced item but is then encouraged to buy a higher-priced one. | |
ballada quatrain alternating iambic tetrameter in lines one and three with iambic trimeter in lines two and four. The rhyme scheme of a ballad is abcb. | |
bandwagonA fallacy in which one is attracted to a popular party, faction or cause that attracts growing support; following the crowd rather than using evidence to justify a conclusion. | |
biasAn inclination of temperament or outlook; a personal and sometimes unreasoned judgment. | |
blendTo combine the sounds represented by two or more letters to pronounce a word such as /gr/ in grow; to combine two or more words | |
brainstormingA prewriting technique in which students, either alone or in groups, jot down all words or phrases that come to mind on a topic to expand the range of available ideas, to solve a problem or to clarify a concept. | |
C |
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caesuraa natural break or pause in a line of poetry, usually near the middle of the line, usually marked by punctuation. | |
capitonymA word which changes its meaning and pronunciation when
capitalized Examples:
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