Definition

Noun: A rhetorical device involving the repetition of a word in a different grammatical form (such as a different case, tense, or inflection) within the same sentence or clause. It is used to create emphasis, rhythm, or a play on words.

Usage

Polyptoton is used as a stylistic tool in writing and speech. It is a specific type of repetition that highlights a word by using its different forms, often to underscore a concept or create a memorable phrase.

Examples

• "My own heart's heart" is a classic example, where the word "heart" is repeated in a different possessive form.
• "With loving words and words of love." (Here, "love" appears as an adjective and a noun).
• "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." (Franklin D. Roosevelt, where "fear" is used as a verb and a noun).

Advanced Usage

• Polyptoton is often found in poetry, religious texts, political speeches, and advertising slogans for its persuasive and mnemonic quality.
• It can be subtle, using different parts of speech derived from the same root (e.g., "strength" and "strengthen").

Variants and Related Words

• Polyptote (n): An alternative, less common term for polyptoton.
• Repetition (n): The broader rhetorical category to which polyptoton belongs.
• Antanaclasis (n): A related rhetorical device involving the repetition of a word in a different (e.g., "Your argument is sound, nothing but sound.").

Synonyms

• Grammatical repetition
• Inflectional repetition

Related Idioms or Phrases

• While not an idiom itself, polyptoton is the device behind many famous phrases and idioms, such as "man's inhumanity to man."

Noun

1. repetition of a word in a different case or inflection in the same sentence
   • My own heart's heart