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

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

From Les Misérables by Hapgood, Isabel Florence

Grumphll is an epiphonema as good as any other welcome.

From The Man Who Laughs by Hugo, Victor