rhetoric
[ ret-er-ik ]
/ ˈrɛt ər ɪk /
noun
Origin of rhetoric
1300–50; < Latin
rhētorica < Greek
rhētorikḕ (
téchnē) rhetorical (art); replacing Middle English
rethorik < Medieval Latin
rēthorica, Latin
rhētorica, as above
Words nearby rhetoric
rhesus monkey,
rhet.,
rhetian,
rhetic,
rhetor,
rhetoric,
rhetorical,
rhetorical question,
rhetorical stress,
rhetorician,
rheum
Example sentences from the Web for rhetoric
British Dictionary definitions for rhetoric
rhetoric
/ (ˈrɛtərɪk) /
noun
the study of the technique of using language effectively
the art of using speech to persuade, influence, or please; oratory
excessive use of ornamentation and contrivance in spoken or written discourse; bombast
speech or discourse that pretends to significance but lacks true meaning
all the politician says is mere rhetoric
Word Origin for rhetoric
C14: via Latin from Greek
rhētorikē (
tekhnē) (the art of) rhetoric, from
rhētōr
rhetor