topos

American  

[toh-pohs, ‑pos] / ˈtoʊ poʊs, ‑pɒs /

noun

plural

topoi

1. a convention or motif, especially in a literary work; a rhetorical convention.

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topos British  

/ ˈtɒpɒs /

noun

1. a basic theme or concept, esp a stock topic in rhetoric

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Etymology

Origin of topos

First recorded in 1935–40; from Greek (koinós) tópos “(common) place”; topic ( def. )

Example Sentences

Mexico’s acclaimed searchers, known as topos, or moles, were picking up their gear and leaving the scene.

From Los Angeles Times

The workers — specialists known in Mexico as topos, or moles — have drilled a tunnel to gain access to the interior.

From Los Angeles Times

The “topics”—topoi in the Greek— are, literally, places.

From Literature

The national disdain of the “intellectual” is a frequent topos in my writing.

From The New Yorker

“It’s anthropologically intriguing how sensitive the topos is,” he said.

From Washington Times