epideictic

adjective

ep·​i·​deic·​tic
¦epə¦dīktik
: designed primarily for rhetorical effect : demonstrative
epideictic style of writing
the Indian speeches are … more of the nature of the forensic and, occasionally, epideictic or panegyric, than of deliberative oratoryH. J. C. Grierson
used especially of ceremonial orations of praise or blame

Word History

Etymology

Greek epideiktikos, from (assumed) Greek epideiktos (verbal of Greek epideiknynai to exhibit, show off, display, from epi- + deiknynai to show) + Greek -ikos -ic

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Cite this Entry

“Epideictic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epideictic. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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