repetition of the same sound beginning several words in sequence. *Let us go forth to lead the land we love. J. F. Kennedy, Inaugural *Viri validis cum viribus luctant. Ennius *Veni, vidi, vici. Julius Caesar

("doubling back") the rhetorical repetition of one or several words; specifically, repetition of a word that ends one clause at the beginning of the next. *Men in great place are thrice servants: servants of the sovereign or state; servants of fame; and servants of business. Francis Bacon *Senatus haec intellegit, consul videt; hic tamen [..]

transposition of normal word order; most often found in Latin in the case of prepositions and the words they control. Anastrophe is a form of hyperbaton. *The helmsman steered; the ship moved on; yet never a breeze up blew. Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner *Isdem in oppidis, Cicero *Demosthenes,

opposition, or contrast of ideas or words in a balanced or parallel construction. *Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice, moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue. Barry Goldwater *Brutus: Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Shakespeare, Julius Caesar *The vases of the classical period are but the reflection of c [..]

a form of ellipse by which a speaker comes to an abrupt halt, seemingly overcome by passion (fear, excitement, etc.) or modesty. *Demosthenes,

use of an older or obsolete form. *Pipit sate upright in her chair Some distance from where I was sitting; T. S. Eliot, "A Cooking Egg"

lack of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words. *We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardships, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. J. F. Kennedy, Inaugural *But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. Lincoln, Get [..]

harsh joining of sounds. *We want no parlay with you and your grisly gang who work your wicked will. W. Churchill *O Tite tute Tati tibi tanta tyranne tulisti! Ennius

two corresponding pairs arranged not in parallels (a-b-a-b) but in inverted order (a-b-b-a); from shape of the Greek letter chi (X). *Those gallant men will remain often in my thoughts and in my prayers always. MacArthur *Renown'd for conquest, and in council skill'd. Addison et pacis ornamenta et subsidia belli. Cicero, Pro lege Manilia [..]

substitution of an agreeable or at least non-offensive expression for one whose plainer meaning might be harsh or unpleasant. *When the final news came, there would be a ring at the front door -- a wife in this situation finds herself staring at the front door as if she no longer owns it or controls it--and outside the door would be a man... come t [..]