Antiphrasis

In this article, we are going to explore in detail the topic of Antiphrasis, a topic that has captured the attention of many people around the world. Antiphrasis has been the subject of debate and study for a long time, and in this article we are going to analyze the different perspectives and opinions that exist on the matter. From its origins to its relevance today, Antiphrasis has generated significant interest in various fields, from science to popular culture. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the importance of Antiphrasis and how it is impacting our lives today.

Antiphrasis is the rhetorical device of saying the opposite of what is actually meant in such a way that it is obvious what the true intention is.[1]

Some authors treat and use antiphrasis just as irony, euphemism or litotes.[2]

When the antiphrasal use is very common, the word can become an auto-antonym,[3] having opposite meanings depending on context. For example, Spanish dichoso[4] originally meant "fortunate, blissful" as in tierra dichosa, "fortunate land", but it acquired the ironic and colloquial meaning of "infortunate, bothersome" as in ¡Dichosas moscas!, "Damned flies!".

Etymology

Antiphrasis is a Greek word which means 'opposite words'.[5][6]

Antiphrasis as euphemism

Some euphemisms are antiphrasis, such as "Eumenides" 'the gracious ones' to mean the Erinyes, deities of vengeance.

Examples

  • "Take your time, we've got all day", meaning "hurry up, we don't have all day".
  • "Tell me about it", in the sense of "don't bother, I already know".
  • "Great!", an exclamation uttered when something unpleasant had happened or is about to happen.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Dupriez, Bernard Marie (1991). A dictionary of literary devices: gradus, A-Z. Translated by Halsall, Albert W. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. pp. 49–50. ISBN 978-0-8020-2756-6.
  2. ^ Merry, Bruce (2004). Encyclopedia of Modern Greek Literature. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-313-30813-0.
  3. ^ Rubio Hancock, Jaime (28 August 2016). "19 autoantónimos: palabras que significan una cosa y la contraria". Verne (in Spanish). Ediciones El País. Retrieved 7 May 2023. Como explica Fundéu, a veces son el resultado de los usos irónicos y en ocasiones, de las antífrasis,
  4. ^ Prieto García-Seco, David (28 May 2021). "Rinconete. Lengua. «Huésped» o significar una cosa y la contraria". Centro Virtual Cervantes (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Antiphrasis - Definition and Examples of Antiphrasis". Literary Devices. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  6. ^ Brewer, Ebenezer Cobham (1882). Etymological and Pronouncing Dictionary of Difficult Words. London: Ward, Lock, & Co. p. 26.