Hyperbole
Hyperbole
Hyperbole (/haɪˈpɜːrbəli/; Ancient Greek: ὑπερβολή, huperbolḗ, from ὑπέρ hupér, "above" and βάλλω bállō, "I throw") is a figure of speech that involves an exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis. It is a device that we employ in our day-to-day speech.
Etymology
The term hyperbole is derived from the Ancient Greek word ὑπερβολή (huperbolḗ) by way of Latin. The Greek root words are ὑπέρ (hupér, "above") and βάλλω (bállō, "I throw").
Usage
In literature and oral communication, hyperbole provides emphasis and dramatic effect. Often used in poetry and storytelling, it involves exaggeration to highlight a particular feature or quality of a subject. For example, "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse" is a common hyperbolic expression.
Related Terms
- Exaggeration: A statement that represents something as better or worse than it really is.
- Figure of Speech: A word or phrase used in a non-literal sense for rhetorical or dramatic effect.
- Metaphor: A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
- Simile: A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Hyperbole
- Wikipedia's article - Hyperbole
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski