rhetoric

Meanings

Adjective

• Synonym of rhetorical.

Noun

• The art of using language, especially public speaking, as a means to persuade.
• Meaningless language with an exaggerated style intended to impress.

Related

Similar words

• wordcraft

Origin

• From Middle English rethorik, from Latin rhētoricus, from Ancient Greek ῥητορῐκός.
• From Middle English rethorik, rhetoric, from Old French rhetorique, from Latin rhētorica, from Ancient Greek ῥητορική, ellipsis of ῥητορικὴ τέχνη, from ῥητορικός, from ῥήτωρ.