Definition of Antiphrasis

1. Noun. The use of a word in a sense opposite to its normal sense (especially in irony).

Generic synonyms: Rhetorical Device
Group relationships: Irony

Definition of Antiphrasis

1. n. The use of words in a sense opposite to their proper meaning; as when a court of justice is called a court of vengeance.

Definition of Antiphrasis

1. Noun. (rhetoric) Use of a word or phrase in a sense not in accord with its literal meaning, especially for ironic or humorous effect ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Antiphrasis

1. [n -PHRASES]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Antiphrasis

antiphonically
antiphonies
antiphons
antiphony
antiphospholipid
antiphospholipid antibodies
antiphospholipid antibody
antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
antiphospholipid syndrome
antiphosphorylated
antiphotino
antiphotinos
antiphoton
antiphotons
antiphrases
antiphrasis (current term)
antiphrastic
antiphrastical
antiphrastically
antiphthisic
antiphthisics
antiphysical
antipig
antipigeon
antipill
antipilling
antipiracy
antipirate
antiplague
antiplaintiff

Literary usage of Antiphrasis

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Language and Languages: Being "Chapters on Language" and "Families of Speech" by Frederic William Farrar (1878)
"Observing that in some rare and extreme cases Euphemism,2 the use of pleasing and well-omened words, passed into antiphrasis, the denomination of things ..."

2. Chapters on Language by Frederic William Farrar (1873)
"Observing that in some rare and extreme cases Euphemism,2 the use of pleasing and well-omened words, passed into antiphrasis, the denomina-- 1 Mill's Logic, ..."

3. Larcher's Notes on Herodotus: Historical and Critical Comments on the by Pierre-Henri Larcher (1844)
"... is by antiphrasis ; because, says he, this part, which is only a thin board fastened to the poop, is easily broken. The scholiast is quite in the right. ..."

4. T'oung pao by Demiéville, Paul, Henri Cordier, Gustaaf Schlegel, Edouard Chavannes, Paul Pelliot, Jan Julius Lodewijk Duyvendak (1891)
"This figure is denominated antiphrasis; eg Iwan ^ properly signifies »to create ... Ts'ing 'ffi signifies pure and clean, and by antiphrasis it denotes a ..."

5. Dosparth Edeyrn Davod Aur: Or, The Ancient Welsh Grammar, which was Compiled by Davod Aur Edeyrn, Athraw Davydd Ddu, Simwnt Fychan, John Williams (1856)
"antiphrasis. § 1993. antiphrasis is the conversion of a word into mockery; as if a person should call a clumsy, ugly daub of a girl " the aspect of a ..."

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