rhetoric English · revision 15180

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1330|origins=grc ῥήτωρ}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈret.ər.ɪk/, US /ˈret̬.ɚ.ɪk/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|rethorike]], [[bor|fro|rethorique]] (modern [[fr|rhétorique]]) and directly [[la|rhētoricē]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[grc|ῥητορική|tr=rhētorikḗ]], short for “the art of an orator”,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from [[m|grc|ῥήτωρ|tr=rhḗtōr|t=speaker, orator]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) ultimately from [[ine-pro|*were-|t=to speak]] (see [[word]] and [[verb]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The spelling with rh- imitates Latin and is first recorded about 1475.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The art of using language to persuade or influence others: about 1330, as Rettorike, in Barnhart; the early 14th century in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Since classical times the word has suggested artificial or showy oratory, as opposed to natural speech.^(Etymonline) Speech or writing meant to persuade, often in an unfavourable sense, is from about 1386,^(OED 1989) mastery of literary eloquence from 1395,^(Barnhart 1988) and ''rhetorics'', rhetorical flourishes, from 1426.^(OED 1989) A treatise on the art is from 1565,^(OED 1989) one of the top classes in certain English Roman Catholic schools from 1599,^(OED 1989) and prose composition as a school exercise from 1828.^(OED 1989) An older rhetoric, from before 1350, meant a rhetorician.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1330 – the art of persuasion.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1386 – persuasive speech.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1395 – literary eloquence.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1426 – rhetorical flourishes.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1475 – the spelling rhetoric.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1565 – a treatise on rhetoric.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The art or study of using language effectively and persuasively.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Skill in using language persuasively; [[oratory]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Showy, overelaborate language; [[bombast]].^(Collins 2023)

+ # Speech that sounds important but lacks real meaning: ''mere rhetoric''.^(Collins 2023)

+ # A book or treatise on this art.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[rhetorical]]

+ * [[rhetorician]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[word]]

+ * [[verb]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}