Literary Devices And Terms

verb to cause pain or suffering to; affect or trouble

• The disease can afflict individuals of all ages.
• I heard that the flu is going around and afflicting a lot of people.
• I can't believe how badly that breakup afflicted him.
• The dark cloud of doubt continued to afflict her thoughts.

noun the scope or range of something

• The project falls within the ambit of the company's strategic goals.
• The new rules are within the ambit of what we can handle.
• I don't think this falls under our ambit, let's pass it on to someone else.
• Her ambitions reached far beyond the ambit of her small town.

noun any of the declarations of blessedness made by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount

• The beatitude of the monk was evident in his serene demeanor.
• She radiated beatitude after receiving the good news.
• The beatitude on his face was priceless when he saw his favorite band perform live.
• The beatitude of reaching the mountain peak was overwhelming for the hikers.

noun a boyfriend or male admirer

• The grand ballroom was adorned with beautiful chandeliers, creating a truly majestic atmosphere.
• She's going on a date with her beau tonight.
• Check out that new ride, it's a real beau!
• His words were a beau of deception, masking his true intentions.

verb to indicate or suggest something; to be a sign of something

• The elegant attire she wore bespeaks her refined taste in fashion.
• His fancy car bespeaks his success in life.
• The graffiti on the wall bespeaks the artist's rebellious nature.
• The storm clouds gathering on the horizon bespeak of an impending thunderstorm.

noun a person of roughly the same age as another

adjective of the same age or date of origin; contemporary

• The two artists were considered coevals in the art world, both achieving success at the same time.
• My coeval friend and I have known each other since we were kids.
• Those two are like, totally coevals, always hanging out together.
• The concept of time being coeval with space is a complex idea in philosophy.

noun the highest or climactic point of something, especially as attained after a long time

• The culmination of their hard work was evident in the successful completion of the project.
• After months of planning, the party was the culmination of all our efforts.
• The concert was lit, it was the culmination of a great weekend.
• The sunrise marked the culmination of a new day full of possibilities.

noun a young woman or girl, usually of noble birth, who is in distress and needs to be rescued

• The knight rescued the damsel in distress from the tower.
• He always plays the role of the knight in shining armor rescuing the damsel.
• She's always getting herself into trouble, that damsel.
• The CEO saw himself as the damsel in a corporate world full of challenges.

noun a small beetle that makes a ticking sound, believed in folklore to portend a death

• The deathwatch beetle is known for the tapping sound it makes in the walls of old buildings.
• I heard a deathwatch beetle in the attic last night, it was so loud!
• I swear, that deathwatch beetle is driving me crazy with its noise.
• The constant ticking of the clock felt like a deathwatch counting down the hours of his life.

verb to cause someone to lose familiarity or habituation with something

adjective not accustomed or used to something

• After living abroad for several years, she found herself disaccustomed to the customs of her home country.
• I've been away from the city for so long, I feel disaccustomed to the hustle and bustle.
• He was disaccustomed to pulling all-nighters, so he struggled to stay awake during the party.
• Having grown up in a small town, she felt disaccustomed to the fast-paced lifestyle of the city.

adjective not in harmony or agreement; discordant

• The disconsonant notes in the music piece created a jarring effect.
• The disconsonant mix of colors in her outfit clashed horribly.
• That song is so disconsonant, it hurts my ears.
• Their disconsonant opinions on the matter led to a heated argument.

noun a loose morning dress

• The actress was caught in dishabille by the paparazzi.
• She walked around the house in dishabille all day.
• I can't believe she went to the party in dishabille!
• His argument was in such dishabille that no one could follow his train of thought.

noun a blissful state or place

adjective relating to or characteristic of heaven or paradise; blissful

• The Elysian fields in Greek mythology were said to be a paradise for heroes in the afterlife.
• I heard the Elysian neighborhood in our city is known for its trendy cafes and boutiques.
• That new rooftop bar downtown is absolutely Elysian, you have to check it out.
• The way she danced on stage was like watching a performance from the Elysian realms.

noun the heavens or the sky, especially when regarded as a tangible thing

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• The stars in the firmament shone brightly on that clear night.
• I love looking up at the firmament and trying to spot constellations.
• Check out the amazing view of the firmament tonight!
• His dreams reached up into the firmament, beyond what others thought possible.

noun a fanciful or unrealistic idea or notion

• Her idea of starting a business with no experience seemed like a flight of fancy.
• Tom's plan to become a famous actor overnight is just a flight of fancy.
• I thought about quitting my job and traveling the world, but it was just a flight of fancy.
• His dreams of becoming a rockstar were nothing more than a flight of fancy.

noun a noisy disturbance or quarrel

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pronoun none

preposition none

conjunction none

interjection none

article none

• The fracas between the two political parties escalated into a full-blown conflict.
• There was a huge fracas at the concert last night when the fans started fighting.
• The fracas at the bar got out of hand and the bouncers had to step in.
• The fracas of emotions inside her head made it hard to think clearly.

adjective Fugacious is an adjective that means lasting for a short time, fleeting, or transient.

• The beauty of the sunset is fugacious, lasting only a few moments before fading into darkness.
• The happiness from winning the game was fugacious, quickly replaced by disappointment in the next round.
• That feeling of excitement was fugacious, like a shooting star that disappears in an instant.
• The artist captured the fugacious nature of life in his painting, with images that seem to vanish before your eyes.

noun a person who does not belong to a widely held religion (especially one who is not a Christian, Jew, or Muslim)

• The missionary tried to convert the heathen tribes in the remote jungle.
• My grandmother referred to anyone who wasn't religious as a heathen.
• Some people think anyone who doesn't follow their beliefs is a heathen.
• In the eyes of the strict religious community, anyone who questioned their beliefs was considered a heathen.

noun a state of mental dullness or lethargy

• The hebetude of the students was evident as they struggled to stay awake during the lecture.
• His hebetude was so bad that he couldn't even keep his eyes open during the movie.
• I can't deal with her hebetude right now, she needs to wake up and pay attention.
• The hebetude of the town was like a heavy fog, weighing down on everyone's energy.

noun a break or interruption in the continuity of a work, series, or action

• The project has been put on hiatus until further notice.
• We're taking a hiatus from work next week to go on vacation.
• I'm on a hiatus from dating right now, just focusing on myself.
• His creativity went on hiatus for a while, but now he's back with new ideas.

adjective having little or no money; penniless

• The impecunious artist struggled to afford basic art supplies.
• My impecunious friend always asks to borrow money for lunch.
• I can't believe I'm so impecunious right now, I spent all my cash on that concert ticket.
• The impecunious state of the company's finances led to layoffs and budget cuts.

noun a physical tossing or jerking of the body

• The defendant's jactitation of false claims only served to further damage their credibility in court.
• Stop with the jactitation already, no one believes your exaggerated stories.
• Her jactitation about her new job was so over the top, it was hard to take her seriously.
• The politician's jactitation of his accomplishments was like a desperate attempt to gain approval from the public.

verb past tense and past participle of learn

adjective having much knowledge; educated

• Through diligent study, I have learned a great deal about the history of ancient civilizations.
• I learned how to bake a cake from watching YouTube tutorials.
• I finally learned to chill out and not stress about every little thing.
• After facing many challenges, she learned to trust her instincts and follow her heart.

adjective relating to literature or written works, typically considered to be of high quality or intellectual value

• The literary analysis of the novel focused on the use of symbolism and allegory.
• I love reading literary classics like 'Pride and Prejudice' for fun.
• That book is so lit, it's definitely a literary masterpiece.
• Her words painted a literary picture that transported me to another world.

adjective an adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. In this case, 'massive' describes the noun it is referring to as being very large or substantial.

• The company announced a massive increase in profits this quarter.
• I can't believe how massive that burger is!
• That concert was a massive hit, everyone loved it!
• Her love for music is a massive part of her life.

noun a person who experiences or exhibits melancholy

adjective a term used to describe a feeling of sadness or depression

• The protagonist's melancholic demeanor added depth to the novel's themes of loss and redemption.
• After watching a sad movie, I always feel a bit melancholic for a while.
• I can't listen to that song, it's so melancholic, it makes me want to cry.
• The gray clouds hanging low in the sky cast a melancholic shadow over the city.

noun a mixture or assortment of different elements

• The artist created a beautiful melange of colors in her latest painting.
• I love how this recipe uses a melange of different herbs and spices.
• The party was a total melange of people from all walks of life.
• The novel was a melange of different genres, blending mystery, romance, and fantasy seamlessly.

noun a person or thing that has no equal; a paragon

adjective having no match or equal; unrivaled

• Her skills as a pianist were considered nonpareil in the music industry.
• That bakery down the street makes nonpareil cupcakes.
• She's the nonpareil of the group when it comes to video games.
• His reputation as a leader in the community was nonpareil.

noun a splendid display or array

• The museum displayed a panoply of artifacts from ancient civilizations.
• There was a panoply of snacks at the party last night.
• I can't believe the panoply of drama that unfolded at school today.
• Her mind was a panoply of conflicting thoughts and emotions.

noun a deliberate desire to behave in an unreasonable or unacceptable way; contrariness

• The perversity of his actions shocked the entire community.
• I can't believe the perversity of her behavior at the party last night.
• That guy's perversity knows no bounds.
• The perversity of nature never ceases to amaze me.

noun a member of the common people in ancient Rome

adjective of or relating to the common people in ancient Rome; common or vulgar

• The plebeian class in ancient Rome consisted of common citizens with no noble status.
• The plebeian crowd at the concert was rowdy and enthusiastic.
• Don't hang out with those plebeians, they have no taste in music.
• His taste in art is so plebeian, he only likes mass-produced prints.

noun the condition of being right, appropriate, or fitting

• It is important to always adhere to the proprieties of etiquette in social settings.
• She doesn't care much about the proprieties when it comes to table manners.
• Who cares about all those proprieties, let's just have fun!
• The artist's work challenged the proprieties of traditional art forms.

noun a distinctive feature or characteristic

• The philosopher pondered the quiddity of existence during his lecture.
• I can't quite grasp the quiddity of this math problem.
• I don't get the quiddity of what she's saying.
• The quiddity of her argument lies in its underlying assumptions.

noun A group or set of five people or things.

adjective Describing something that consists of or is associated with five members or elements.

• The quintet of musicians performed a beautiful piece at the concert hall.
• Let's go check out that new quintet playing at the local bar tonight.
• The quintet totally rocked the house last night!
• The five friends formed a quintet of support for each other during tough times.

noun clothing or garments in general; attire

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• The king's raiment was adorned with intricate embroidery and jewels.
• She loved browsing through vintage stores to find unique raiment for special occasions.
• Check out my new raiment for the party, I think it's totally rad.
• The artist used vibrant colors to paint the raiment of the sky at sunset.

adjective relating to or conveying a salutation or greeting

• The salutatory speech at the graduation ceremony was well-received by the audience.
• The salutatory address was a nice way to start off the event.
• The salutatory talk was pretty cool, don't you think?
• Her smile was like a salutatory gesture, welcoming everyone to the party.

adjective rough or scaly in texture, or morally scandalous

• The scientist presented a scabrous analysis of the data, highlighting several inconsistencies.
• I overheard a scabrous rumor about the new employee, but I'm not sure if it's true.
• The scabrous graffiti on the wall was quickly cleaned off by city workers.
• The scabrous relationship between the two countries showed no signs of improving.

noun a group of soldiers or military personnel collectively

• The soldiery was called to duty to defend the kingdom.
• The soldiery is gearing up for a big battle.
• The soldiery is getting ready to throw down.
• The soldiery of ideas marched forth to conquer ignorance.

verb past participle of strike, meaning to hit or deal a blow to

adjective affected by something overwhelming or painful

• The town was stricken by a severe drought, causing widespread crop failure.
• She was stricken with grief after the loss of her beloved pet.
• I heard he got stricken with a bad case of food poisoning after eating at that sketchy restaurant.
• The team was stricken by a devastating defeat, but they vowed to come back stronger next season.

noun a title, description, or inscription above or outside something

• The superscription on the envelope indicated it was from a prestigious law firm.
• I couldn't read the superscription on the package, so I didn't know who it was from.
• I scribbled my name in the superscription on the birthday card.
• The superscription on the monument read 'In memory of those who sacrificed everything.'

adjective adjective - describing something that is very large in volume or size; extensive or bulky

• The library contained a voluminous collection of rare books.
• She carried a voluminous bag filled with groceries.
• Her hair was looking voluminous after using that new product.
• The CEO presented a voluminous amount of data during the meeting.

noun A word is a unit of language that carries meaning and can be used independently.

verb To word something is to express it in speech or writing.

adjective Word can also be used as an adjective to describe something as being related to words or language.

adverb Word can also be used as an adverb to emphasize a statement or to indicate agreement.

pronoun Word is not commonly used as a pronoun.

preposition Word is not commonly used as a preposition.

conjunction Word is not commonly used as a conjunction.

interjection Word is not commonly used as an interjection.

article Word is not commonly used as an article.

• In academic writing, it is important to carefully choose each word to convey precise meaning.
• I heard a rumor going around, but I don't know if it's true. Just take it with a grain of salt, word?
• Yo, that new song is fire! Word!
• His actions spoke louder than words, showing his true intentions.

noun the activity or skill of marking coherent words on paper or another surface

verb the act of forming letters or words on a surface with a pen, pencil, or another tool

• The art of writing is a skill that requires practice and dedication.
• I enjoy writing in my journal every night before bed.
• I'm just writing up a storm for this essay due tomorrow.
• Writing is like painting with words, creating vivid images in the reader's mind.

adjective characterized by sudden and severe onset

• The patient presented with fulminant sepsis, requiring immediate intervention.
• The storm hit with fulminant force, knocking down trees and power lines.
• That party was fulminant, everyone was dancing and having a great time.
• Her fulminant temper caused arguments wherever she went.

noun a messy or illegible handwriting; scribble

• The professor was disappointed with the student's griffonage on the final exam.
• I can't read your griffonage, please write more neatly.
• Her griffonage looks like chicken scratch, I can't understand a word.
• His thoughts were a messy griffonage of emotions and ideas.

verb past tense of 'damask', which means to weave with a patterned design

adjective a term used to describe a fabric with a pattern of weaving that creates a subtle design, typically floral or geometric

• The walls of the palace were adorned with damask’d tapestries.
• I love the damask’d pattern on that tablecloth.
• Check out the damask’d curtains in the living room, they're so fancy.
• Her words were like a beautifully damask’d fabric, intricate and rich with meaning.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

• The artist's sculptures have form and structure that captivate viewers.
• I love how these cookies have form and hold their shape while baking.
• Dude, your dance moves totally have form, you should join a crew!
• Her arguments always have form and logic, making them very convincing.

adjective relating to or containing blood; blood-red

• The doctor noted the presence of sanguineous fluid in the patient's wound.
• The bandage was soaked with sanguineous blood after the accident.
• I couldn't believe how much sanguineous mess there was to clean up.
• His sanguineous optimism was a source of inspiration for the team.

adverb in addition; besides

preposition in addition to; besides

• The evidence presented in court was more than enough to prove his guilt forby any doubt.
• I told him to pick up some groceries on his way home, and forby, grab some milk too.
• I ain't going to that party, forby it's gonna be lame.
• His passion for music shines through in his performances, forby his natural talent.

noun a merchant ship or vessel

• The merchantman sailed across the ocean with a valuable cargo of spices.
• The merchantman ship is loaded with goods from different countries.
• The merchantman is making a fortune by trading goods from port to port.
• The merchantman of information is always seeking out new sources to trade with.

noun a word that functions as the name of a person, place, thing, or idea

adverb a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, indicating manner, time, place, or degree

• The decision to proceed a bene placito is entirely up to the discretion of the board of directors.
• You can decorate your room a bene placito, however you like.
• I'll just do my homework a bene placito, no need to stress about it.
• She danced to the music a bene placito, letting her body move freely and without restraint.

adjective not producing fruit; sterile

• The acarpous plant failed to produce any fruit despite optimal growing conditions.
• That acarpous tree in my backyard never gives me any fruit.
• I'm so done with that acarpous shrub, it's useless.
• Her acarpous efforts in the project left her feeling unfulfilled.

verb to grow or increase in size, amount, or intensity

• The value of the property accresce over time due to its prime location.
• The number of customers accresce during the holiday season.
• Her popularity accresced after the release of her latest album.
• As the sun sets, the beauty of the landscape accresces, creating a mesmerizing scene.

adjective relating to Adonis, a handsome youth loved by Aphrodite in Greek mythology

• The adonian architecture of the ancient temple was a marvel to behold.
• I heard the adonian gardens are the perfect spot for a picnic.
• Check out that adonian car, it's a real beauty!
• Her adonian voice was like music to my ears.

adjective relating to or characteristic of adultery; illegitimate or spurious

• The court declared the marriage null and void on the grounds of adulterine relationship.
• They found out about the adulterine affair and it caused a lot of drama.
• I heard she's been having an adulterine fling behind her husband's back.
• The adulterine mix of colors in the painting created a unique and striking effect.

noun a medical condition characterized by excessive dryness or heat in the body

• The doctor diagnosed the patient with adustiosis, a skin condition caused by excessive exposure to the sun.
• I heard that adustiosis can be prevented by using sunscreen regularly.
• My sister got a bad case of adustiosis after spending all day at the beach without sunscreen.
• The adustiosis of his soul was evident in the way he shied away from emotional connections.