PREFIXES

Prefix Showing Place or Position

Prefix Meaning Example
circum- around circumstance
co- with, together cooperate
com-, con- with, together companion, consolidate
dis- apart, away disband
en- in, into encircle
ex- out of, former expatriate
inter- between, among intermingle
para- beside, related to paradigm
sub- under, below submarine
tele- afar, distant telescope
trans- across transpose
Prefix Showing Time
Prefix Meaning Example
ante- before antedate
post- after, behind postnatal
pre- before prenuptial
proto- first protocol
re- again rebirth
Number Prefixes
Greek Latin Meaning Example

mono- uni- One monologue, unicycle

duo-,di- bi- Two duet, bicycle
tri- tri- Three triangle, triathlon
tetra-- quad- Four tetrahedron,quadruped
penta - quint- Five pentagon, quintuplets
hex- sex- Six hexagon, sextuplets
hept - sept Seven heptagon, septuplets
oct - oct- Eight octopus, octuplets
ennea- non-,noni-,nona- Nine ennead, nonagenarian
dec- dec- Ten decathlon, decade
hect - cent Hundred hectare, century
kilo- milli Thousand kilometer, millipede

Number Prefixes
Prefix Meaning Example
multi- many multipurpose
poly- many polynomial
semi- half, part semicolon
mega- million megaton
giga- billion gigawatt
SUFFIXES
Noun Suffixes
Suffix Meaning Example
-acy state or quality privacy
-al act or process of refusal, recital, rebuttal
-ance, -ence state or quality of maintenance, assurance
-dom place or state of being freedom, boredom
-er, -or one who trainer, protector, narrator
-ism doctrine, belief scepticism
-ist one who chemist, plagiarist
-ity, -ty quality of inactivity, serenity
Verb Suffixes
Suffix Meaning Example
-ate become regulate, eradicate, enunciate, repudiate
-en become enlighten, awaken, strengthen
-ify, -fy make or become terrify, satisfy, rectify, exemplify
-ize, -ise become civilize, humanize, socialize, valorize

Adjective Suffixes
suffix Meaning Example
-al relating to accident – accidental
brute – brutal
-ary relating to quality or place custom – customary
-ful full of beauty – beautiful
skill – skillful
awe – awful
-ic having the nature of; caused by athlete – athletic
photograph – photographic
history – historic
-ical having the nature of alphabet – alphabetical
-ish origin, nature fool – foolish
-less without use – useless
penny – penniless
-like like child – childlike
spring – springlike
-ly like friend – friendly
day – daily
-ous quality, nature poison – poisonous
courtesy – courteous
mystery – mysterious
nerve – nervous
-y characterized by rain – rainy
Adverbs Suffix
Suffix Meaning Example
-ly describes how a thing is done and Carefully, frequently, repeatedly
how often it is done mockingly
-wards direction Towards,backwards
-wise in relation to Likewise, otherwise

Literary Device
What are literary devices? Literary devices or literary techniques are specific structures that writers often use to add
meaning or create more compelling stories for the reader. These techniques can give the reader a greater understanding
and meaning of the writers intent.
Acrostic
An acrostic is a piece of writing in which a particular set of letters—typically the first letter of each line, word, or
paragraph—spells out a word or phrase with special significance to the text. Acrostics are most commonly written as a
form of poetry, but they can also be found in prose or used as word puzzles.
Roses are red,
Oranges yummy,
Sugar's a sweet,
Elixir in my tummy.
Ad Hominem
When an argument is built around an emotional appeal, rather than logical appeal, it is called an ad hominem argument.
In addition, when an emotional attack on a person or his/her character is made, rather than refuting the points he/she
made, it is also called ad hominem.
Examples:
A politician arguing that his opponent cannot possibly be a good choice for women because he has been married and
divorced five times.
A lawyer argues that his client cannot be held responsible for his actions because he was abused as a child.

Allegory
An allegory is a work that conveys a hidden meaning—usually moral, spiritual, or political through the use of symbolic
characters and events.
The story of "The Tortoise and The Hare" is a well-known allegory with a moral that a slow and steady approach
(symbolized by the Tortoise) is better than a hasty and overconfident approach (symbolized by the Hare).

Alliteration
Alliteration is a series of words or phrases that all (or almost all) start with the same sound. These sounds are typically
consonants to give more stress to that syllable. You’ll often come across alliteration in poetry, titles of books and poems
and tongue twisters.
Example: "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers." In this tongue twister, the "p" sound is repeated at the
beginning of all major words.

Allusion
Allusion is when an author makes an indirect reference to a figure, place, event, or idea originating from outside the text.
Many allusions make reference to previous works of literature or art.
Example: I didn’t have any bus fare, but fortunately some good Samaritan helped me out!

Anachronism
An anachronism occurs when there is an (intentional) error in the chronology or timeline of a text. This could be a
character who appears in a different time period than when he actually lived, or a technology that appears before it was
invented. Anachronisms are often used for comedic effect.
Example: A Renaissance king who says, "That’s dope, dude!" would be an anachronism, since this type of language is
very modern and not actually from the Renaissance period.

Anadiplosis
Anadiplosis is a figure of speech in which a word or group of words located at the end of one clause or sentence is
repeated at or near the beginning of the following clause or sentence.
This line from the novelist Henry James is an example of anadiplosis: "Our doubt is our passion, and our passion is our
task."

Anapest
An anapest is a three-syllable metrical pattern in poetry in which two unstressed syllables are followed by a stressed
syllable.
The word "understand" is an anapest, with the unstressed syllables of "un" and "der" followed by the stressed syllable,
“stand”.

Anaphora
Anaphora is when a word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of multiple sentences throughout a piece of writing. It's
used to emphasize the repeated phrase and evoke strong feelings in the audience.
For example:
I’m sick and tired of you letting me down. I’m sick and tired of you making me mad. And I’m sick and tired of you
doing such silly things!

Antagonist
An antagonist is usually a character who opposes the protagonist (or main character) of a story, but the antagonist can
also be a group of characters, institution, or force against which the protagonist must contend.
A simple example of an antagonist is the Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, who opposes and wants to
destroy Snow White.

Antanaclasis
Antanaclasis is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is repeated within a sentence, but the word or phrase means
something different each time it appears.
Example:
While we live, let us live. (Latin Quotation)

Anthropomorphism
An anthropomorphism occurs when something nonhuman, such as an animal, place, or inanimate object, behaves in a
human-like way.
Example:
Mickey and Minnie Mouse can speak, wear clothes, sing, dance, drive cars, etc.
(Real mice can't do any of these things, but the two mouse characters behave much more like humans than mice.)
Antithesis
Antithesis is a figure of speech that juxtaposes two contrasting or opposing ideas, usually within parallel grammatical
structures.
Example:
That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind. (Neil Armstrong, 1969)

Aphorism
An aphorism is a saying that concisely expresses a moral principle or an observation about the world, presenting it as a
general or universal truth.
"You can't always get what you want."
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Assonance
Assonance is a figure of speech in which the same vowel sound repeats within a group of words.
Example:
The light of the fire is a sight. (repetition of the long i sound)

Bildungsroman
Also known as a “coming-of-age story,” a bildungsroman is a tale in which the main character transforms from child to
adult. It follows some kind of growth or education – the character doesn’t just grow up on his own, but has to go through
a difficult experience in order to come out the other side with greater strength and wisdom.
The Harry Potter series covers Harry’s life from ages 11 to 17, so they’re all about his growth and education.
From a sad, lonely child at the beginning of The Sorcerer’s Stone, he gradually changes and develops into a full-fledged
wizard.

Burlesque
Burlesque is a style in literature and drama that mocks or imitates a subject by representing it in an ironic or ludicrous
way; resulting in comedy. It is a form of the literary genre, satire.
Example:
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Sugar is sweet,
And so are you!

Roses prick your fingers,

Violets make you sneeze,
Sugar fills your veins with fat,
It’s best you stick to peas!
Cacophony
Cacophony literally means harsh, jarring sounds--sounds that do not sound good together. In literature, cacophony is used
to refer to words that have a harsh, jarring sound. Instead of the text being rhythmic or pleasant, the text is unmelodious.
Example:
’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Caesura
Caesura refers to a break or pause in the middle of a line of verse. It can be marked as || in the middle of the line, although
generally it is not marked at all – it’s simply part of the way the reader or singer pronounces the line.
Example:
To be or not to be, || that is the question (William Shakespeare, “Hamlet”)

Catharsis
Catharsis is the process of releasing strong or pent-up emotions through art. Aristotle coined the term catharsis—which
comes from the Greek kathairein meaning "to cleanse or purge"—to describe the release of emotional tension that he
believed spectators experienced while watching dramatic tragedy. Today, the word "catharsis" can be used in reference to
any experience of emotional release or cleansing brought about by a work of art.

Chiasmus
When two or more parallel clauses are inverted.
Example: “Ask not what your country can do for you ; ask what you can do for your country.” (John F. Kennedy)

Cinquain
The word cinquain can refer to two different things. Historically, it referred to any stanza of five lines written in any type
of verse. More recently, cinquain has come to refer to particular types of five-line poems that have precisely defined
features, such as their meter or the number of syllables they contain in each line.
Another name for a five-line stanza is a quintet, and five-line poems can also be called quintains.

Cliché
A cliché is a phrase that, due to overuse, is seen as lacking in substance or originality.
In describing time, the following expressions have turned into cliché:
E.g.
in the nick of time – to happen just in time
only time will tell – to become clear over time
a matter of time – to happen sooner or later
at the speed of light – to do something very quickly
Cliffhanger
A cliffhanger is when a story or plotline ends suddenly or a large plot twist occurs and is left unresolved. It is a device
that is used to cause suspense, but most importantly, it leaves unanswered questions that make the reader or viewer want
to come back to learn what will happen.

Colloquialism
Colloquialism is the use of informal language and slang. It's often used by authors to lend a sense of realism to their
characters and dialogue. Forms of colloquialism include words, phrases, and contractions that aren't real words (such as
"gonna" and "ain’t").
Example: "Hey, what’s up, man?" This piece of dialogue is an example of a colloquialism, since it uses common
everyday words and phrases, namely "what’s up" and "man."

Couplet
A couplet is a unit of two lines of poetry, especially lines that use the same or similar meter, form a rhyme, or are
separated from other lines by a double line break.
Example:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

Dactyl
A dactyl is a three-syllable metrical pattern in poetry in which a stressed syllable is followed by two unstressed syllables.
The word “poetry” itself is a great example of a dactyl, with the stressed syllable falling on the “Po,” followed by the
unstressed syllables “e” and “try”: Po-e-try.

Dénouement
The word "dénouement" comes from French, and literally means "unknotting." But a more faithful translation would be
"outcome," "resolution," or "finale."
The dénouement is the final section of a story's plot, in which loose ends are tied up, lingering questions are answered,
and a sense of resolution is achieved. The shortest and most well-known dénouement, it could be said, is "And they lived
happily ever after."

Deus ex machina
Deus ex machina is a Latin term, borrowed from a Greek phrase meaning "god from the machine."
A deus ex machina is a plot device whereby an unsolvable conflict or point of tension is suddenly resolved by the
unexpected appearance of an implausible character, object, action, ability, or event.
For example, if a character fell off a cliff and a flying robot suddenly appeared out of nowhere to catch them, that would
be a deus ex machina.

Doppelganger
It’s a twin or double of some character, usually in the form of an evil twin.
Example: The Arnold Schwarzenegger movie The 6th Day is entirely about the main character chasing down a clone of
himself. The clone is masquerading as the hero at home and at work. In the end, it turns out that Schwarzenegger’s
character was the clone all along.

Enjambment
Enjambment is continuing a line after the line breaks. Whereas many poems end lines with the natural pause at the end of
a phrase or with punctuation as end-stopped lines, enjambment ends a line in the middle of a phrase, allowing it to
continue onto the next line as an enjambed line.
Example:
We were running
to find what had happened
beyond the hills.

Epigraph
An epigraph is when an author inserts a famous quotation, poem, song, or other short passage or text at the beginning of a
larger text. An epigraph is typically written by a different writer (with credit given) and used as a way to introduce
overarching themes or messages in the work.
Example:
Ernest Hemingway quotes Gertrude Stein: "You are all a lost generation."

Epistrophe
Epistrophe is similar to anaphora, but in this case, the repeated word or phrase appears at the end of successive
statements.
Example:
I’m tired of this job. I’m over this job. I’m done with this job! (Repetition of “this job” emphasizes that the job is the
cause of the speaker’s frustration.)

Euphemism
A euphemism is when a more mild or indirect word or expression is used in place of another word or phrase that is
considered harsh, blunt, vulgar, or unpleasant.
Example: "I’m so sorry, but he didn’t make it." The phrase "didn’t make it" is a more polite and less blunt way of saying
that someone has died.

Extended Metaphor
An extended metaphor is a metaphor that is developed in great detail. The amount of detail can vary from that of a
sentence or a paragraph, to encompassing an entire work. In an extended metaphor, the author takes a single metaphor
and employs it at length, using various subjects, images, ideas and situations.
Example:
A poet wanting to express his love might write a poem about planets and suns. The sun would represent the object of that
love and the revolving planet would represent the one who is in love, encircling that sun, drawing warmth and nourishing
life from it.

Flashback
A flashback is an interruption in a narrative that depicts events that have already occurred, either before the present time
or before the time at which the narration takes place. This device is often used to give the reader more background
information and details about specific characters, events, plot points, and so on.

Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is when an author indirectly hints at—through things such as dialogue, description, or characters’
actions—what’s to come later on in the story. This device is often used to introduce tension to a narrative.

Hyperbaton
Hyperbaton is a figure of speech in which the typical, natural order of words is changed as certain words are moved out
of order.
Example:
nothing false and possible is love (E.E. Cummings) Love is nothing false and possible.
Sweet, she was. She was sweet.

Hyperbole
Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement that's not meant to be taken literally by the reader. It is often used for comedic
effect and/or emphasis.
Example: "I’m so hungry I could eat a horse." The speaker will not literally eat an entire horse (and most likely couldn’t),
but this hyperbole emphasizes how starved the speaker feels.

Hypophora
Hypophora is where the person raises a question and answers it immediately themselves. It’s often used when characters
are reasoning something aloud.
Example: “Do you always watch for the longest day of the year and then miss it? I always watch for the longest day in
the year and then miss it.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Imagery
Imagery is language used by poets, novelists and other writers to create images in the mind of the reader. Imagery
includes figurative and metaphorical language to improve the reader’s experience through their senses.
Example: (Imagery using visuals)
The night was black as ever, but bright stars lit up the sky in beautiful and varied constellations which were sprinkled
across the astronomical landscape.
(Imagery using sounds)
Silence was broken by the peal of piano keys as Shannon began practicing her concerto.
(Imagery using scent)
She smelled the scent of sweet hibiscus wafting through the air, its tropical smell a reminder that she was on vacation in a
beautiful place.
(Imagery using taste)
The candy melted in her mouth and swirls of bittersweet chocolate and slightly sweet but salty caramel blended together
on her tongue.
(Imagery using touch)
After the long run, he collapsed in the grass with tired and burning muscles. The grass tickled his skin and sweat cooled
on his brow.

Innuendo
An innuendo is when you say something which is polite and innocent on the surface, but indirectly hints at an insult or
rude comment, a dirty joke, or even social or political criticism.
Example:
I’ve found a way to get some “extra help” on the test.

Invective
Invective is the literary device in which one attacks or insults a person or thing through the use of abusive language and
tone. Invective is often accompanied by negative emotion.
High invective requires the use of formal and creative language.
Low invective, on the other hand, makes use of rude and offensive images.
Examples:
Low invective: You’re going to be alone forever with that bravery!
High invective: With such gallant bravery, you are sure to be alone for the rest of your days.

Irony
Irony is when a statement is used to express an opposite meaning than the one literally expressed by it. There are three
types of irony in literature:
Verbal irony: When someone says something but means the opposite (similar to sarcasm).
For example, a character stepping out into a hurricane and saying, “What nice weather we’re having!”
Situational irony: When something happens that's the opposite of what was expected or intended to happen.
Example: A girl wakes up late for school and quickly rushes to get there. As soon as she arrives, though, she realizes that
it’s Saturday and there is no school.
Dramatic irony: When the audience is aware of the true intentions or outcomes, while the characters are not. As a
result, certain actions and/or events take on different meanings for the audience than they do for the characters involved.
Example: In William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Romeo commits suicide in order to be with Juliet; however, the
audience (unlike poor Romeo) knows that Juliet is not actually dead—just asleep.

Isocolon
This is when two or more phrases or clauses have a similar structure, rhythm, and even length — such that, when stacked
up on top of each other, they would line up. Isocolon often crops up in brand slogans and famous sayings; the quick,
balanced rhythm makes the phrase more memorable and catchy.
Examples: Veni, vidi, vici (“I came, I saw, I conquered”)

Juxtaposition
Juxtaposition is the comparing and contrasting of two or more different (usually opposite) ideas, characters, objects, etc.
This literary device is often used to help create a clearer picture of the characteristics of one object or idea by comparing
it with those of another.
Example: One of the most famous literary examples of juxtaposition is the opening passage from Charles Dickens’ novel
A Tale of Two Cities:
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the
epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring
of hope, it was the winter of despair …"

Litotes
Litotes is the signature literary device of the double negative. Writers use litotes to express certain sentiments through
their opposites, by saying that that opposite is not the case.
Example: “You won’t be sorry” (meaning you’ll be happy); “you’re not wrong” (meaning you’re right); “I didn’t not like
it” (meaning I did).

Malapropism
Malapropism happens when an incorrect word is used in place of a word that has a similar sound. This misuse of the
word typically results in a statement that is both nonsensical and humorous; as a result, this device is commonly used in
comedic writing.
Example: "I just can't wait to dance the flamingo!" Here, a character has accidentally called the flamenco (a type of
dance) the flamingo (an animal).

Metaphor/Simile
Metaphors are when ideas, actions, or objects are described in non-literal terms. In short, it’s when an author compares
one thing to another. The two things being described usually share something in common but are unalike in all other
respects.
A simile is a type of metaphor in which an object, idea, character, action, etc., is compared to another thing using the
words "as" or "like."
Examples:
"What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun." In this line from Romeo and Juliet,
Romeo compares Juliet to the sun. However, because Romeo doesn’t use the words "as" or "like," it is not a simile—just
a metaphor.
"She is as vicious as a lion." Since this statement uses the word "as" to make a comparison between "she" and "a lion," it
is a simile.

Metonymy
A metonymy is when a related word or phrase is substituted for the actual thing to which it's referring. This device is
usually used for poetic or rhetorical effect.
Example: "The pen is mightier than the sword." ("The pen" refers to "the written word," and "the sword" refers to
"military force/violence.")

Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is a word (or group of words) that represents a sound and actually resembles or imitates the sound it stands
for. It is often used for dramatic, realistic, or poetic effect.
Examples: Buzz, boom, chirp, creak, sizzle, zoom, etc.

Oxymoron
An oxymoron is a combination of two words that, together, express a contradictory meaning. This device is often used for
emphasis, for humor, to create tension, or to illustrate a paradox (see next entry for more information on paradoxes).
Examples: Deafening silence, organized chaos, cruelly kind, insanely logical, etc.

Palindrome
A palindrome is a type of word play in which a word or phrase spelled forward is the same word or phrase spelled
backward.
Example:
Never odd or even. (When written backwards, the message reads the same: never odd or even.)
Example:
Stressed desserts

Paradox
A paradox is a statement that appears illogical or self-contradictory but, upon investigation, might actually be true or
plausible. Note that a paradox is different from an oxymoron: a paradox is an entire phrase or sentence, whereas an
oxymoron is a combination of just two words.
Example:
Nobody goes to Murphy’s Bar anymore — it’s too crowded.

Personification
Personification is when a nonhuman figure or other abstract concept or element is described as having human-like
qualities or characteristics.

Example: "The wind moaned, beckoning me to come outside." In this example, the wind—a nonhuman element—is
being described as if it is human (it "moans" and "beckons").
Polysyndeton
Polysyndeton is a literary device that uses multiple repetitions of the same conjunction (and, but, if, etc), most commonly
the word “and.”
Example:
“And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove
mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:2)

Repetition
Repetition is when a word or phrase is written multiple times, usually for the purpose of emphasis. It is often used in
poetry (for purposes of rhythm as well).
Example:
“And love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love cannot be killed or swept aside.” (Lin-Manuel Miranda)

Symbolism
Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities, by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from
their literal sense.
William Blake goes symbolic in his poem Ah Sunflower. He says:
“Ah Sunflower, weary of time,
Who countest the steps of the sun;
Seeking after that sweet golden clime
Where the traveler’s journey is done;”
Blake uses a sunflower as a symbol for human beings, and “the sun” symbolizes life. Therefore, these lines symbolically
refer to their life cycle and their yearning for a never-ending life.

Synecdoche
A synecdoche is a literary device in which part of something is used to represent the whole, or vice versa.
Example: "Help me out, I need some hands!" In this case, "hands" is being used to refer to people (the whole human,
essentially)

Verisimilitude
Verisimilitude simply means ‘the quality of resembling reality.’ A work of art, or any part of a work of art, has
verisimilitude if it seems realistic. The word verisimilitude is derived from the Latin words verum and similis meaning
“truth” and “similar.” A verisimilitudinous story has details, subjects, and characters that seem similar or true to real life.
Example :
A typically kind character says “I’m so very sorry! It was an accident!” after accidentally tripping someone on the bus.
(The story has verisimilitude because a character who is known for being kind would, predictably, apologize after
accidentally tripping someone).