HYPOBOLE Meaning and
Definition
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Hypobole is a rhetorical figure that typically refers to a form of understatement or deliberate underemphasis used in speech or writing. Derived from the Greek word "hupobolē," meaning "underthrow," it involves the deliberate use of a statement or phrase that minimizes the significance or intensity of something. Hypobole is often employed for various literary and persuasive effects, such as irony, humor, or subtle emphasis.
In hypobole, the speaker or writer intentionally diminishes the impact of a particular situation, event, or idea through an understatement. It involves the use of a statement or phrase that downplays the importance, magnitude, or gravity of a subject matter, highlighting the discrepancy between the actual significance and its portrayal. This technique can create a sense of surprise, or it can be used as a way to make a point indirectly, subtly indicating the gravity of a situation without explicitly stating it.
For instance, a common example of hypobole is when someone says, "I'm not a rocket scientist." This statement downplays their intelligence and implies that they are not highly skilled or knowledgeable in a particular area. By using this form of understatement, the speaker aims to create a humorous or modest effect.
Overall, hypobole involves the conscious use of understatement to achieve rhetorical or literary effects, employing subtle language and minimizing the significance of a subject in order to emphasize, contrast, or create a particular tone or message.
Common Misspellings for HYPOBOLE
- gypobole
- bypobole
- nypobole
- jypobole
- uypobole
- yypobole
- htpobole
- hgpobole
- hhpobole
- hupobole
- h7pobole
- h6pobole
- hyoobole
- hylobole
- hy-obole
- hy0obole
- hypibole
- hypkbole
- hyplbole
Etymology of HYPOBOLE
The word "hypobole" has its etymology rooted in Greek. It is derived from the Greek word "hypobolē", which means "a throwing or laying underneath". This term is formed by combining the prefix "hypo-", meaning "under", and "bolē", meaning "a throw or cast". In Greek rhetoric, hypobole refers to the deliberate omission of a word or phrase from an expression.
Similar spelling words for HYPOBOLE
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