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
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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:
| |
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:
| |
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). | ||