epizeuxis

[ ep-i-zook-sis ]

noun

, Rhetoric.

1. a literary or rhetorical device that appeals to or invokes the reader’s or listener’s emotions through the repetition of words or phrases in quick succession, as in “Threaten me all you want, I won’t do it. I won’t! I won’t! I won’t!”

Word History and Origins

Origin of epizeuxis¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from New Latin, from Greek epízeuxis “fastening together, joining, repetition (of words),” equivalent to prefix epi- and zeûxis “yoking (of oxen), joining,” verbal noun from zeugnýnai “to yoke, join”; epi- ( def ); hypozeuxis ( def ), yoke ¹( def )