epistrophe

[ih-pis-truh-fee]

noun

1. Also called epiphora. Rhetoric.,  the repetition of a word or words at the end of two or more successive verses, clauses, or sentences, as in “I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong. …”

2. Philosophy.,  (inNeoplatonism ) the realization by an intellect of its remoteness from the One.

epistrophe

/ ɪˈpɪstrəfɪ /

noun

1. rhetoric repetition of a word at the end of successive clauses or sentences

Word History and Origins

Origin of epistrophe¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from New Latin, from Greek epistrophḗ; epi-, strophe

Word History and Origins

Origin of epistrophe¹

C17: New Latin, from Greek, from _epi- + strophē a turning

Example Sentences

And he comes closest to successfully Iyerizing an old piece of music on a version of Monk’s “Epistrophe,” on which he builds the song’s moving harmony into his flow without breaking pace.

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