epiphonema

American  

[ep-uh-foh-nee-muh] / ˌɛp ə foʊˈni mə /

noun

Rhetoric.

plural

epiphonemas, epiphonemae

1. a sentence that is an exclamation, a general or striking comment, or a succinct summary of what has previously been said.

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Usage

What does epiphonema mean? An epiphonema is an exclamatory or general statement, especially one that briefly summarizes what has just been said.Epiphonemas can be used to add emphasis or drama to the end of a discussion or argument by restating what was said but in a shorter, more succinct way. An epiphonema can be thought of as somewhat like “the moral of the story.”Example: After telling us about all of the old friends he ran into over vacation, John concluded his story with the epiphonema, “Oh, what a small world we live in!”

Etymology

Origin of epiphonema

1570–80; < Latin epiphōnēma exclamation < Greek epiphṓnēma. See epi-, phoneme

Example Sentences

It has no passage quite up to the Invocation—Epiphonema, to give it the technical term—of the later poem.

From Project Gutenberg

Lucretius Carus the philosopher and poet inueighing sore against the abuses of the superstitious religion of the Gentils, and recompting the wicked fact of king Agamemnon in sacrificing his only daughter Iphigenia, being a yoong damsell of excellent bewtie, to th'intent to please the wrathfull gods, hinderers of his nauigation, after he had said all, closed it vp in this one verse, spoken in Epiphonema.

From Project Gutenberg

Grumphll is an epiphonema as good as any other welcome.

From Project Gutenberg

This explains that famous exclamation of a Parisian gamin, a profound epiphonema, which the vulgar herd laughs at without comprehending,—Dieu de Dieu!

From Project Gutenberg

An excellent discourse whereof, as likewise of the honourable expedition vnder two of the most noble and valiant peeres of this Realme, I meane the renoumed Erle of Essex, and the right honorable the lord Charles Howard, lord high Admirall of England, made 1596. vnto the strong citie of Cadiz, I haue set downe as a double epiphonema to conclude this my first volume withall.

From Project Gutenberg