from the Greek for "good speech"

a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept

intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights

the way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences

the branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words, their historical and psychological development, their connotations, and their relation to one another

originally this meant basic understanding

a work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule

from the Greek for "orator"

an adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish

a statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth and validity

a figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement

a terse statement of unknown authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle

the multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage

the effects are varied, depending on the writer's goal, but when good, often humorous, it is thought provoking and insightful about the human condition