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  5. / Literature: General
  6. / figure of speech

figure of speech

figure of speech, intentional departure from straight-forward, literal use of language for the purpose of clarity, emphasis, or freshness of expression. See separate articles on antithesis ; apostrophe ; conceit ; hyperbole ; irony ; litotes ; metaphor ; metonymy ; paradox ; personification ; simile ; and synecdoche .

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.