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"exclamatory sentence"

By Richard Nordquist, About.com

Definition:

A sentence that expresses strong feelings by making an exclamation.

Etymology:

From the Latin, "to call"

Examples and Observations:

  • "A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse!"
    (William Shakespeare, King Richard III)

  • What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god!"
    (William Shakespeare, "Hamlet")

  • "What other dungeon is so dark as one's own heart! What jailer so inexorable as one's self!"
    (Nathaniel Hawthorne)

  • "What a grand thing, to be loved! What a grander thing still, to love!"
    (Victor Hugo)

  • "All I can say about life is, Oh God, enjoy it!"
    (Bob Newhart)

  • "If only God would give me some clear sign! Like making a large deposit in my name in a Swiss bank."
    (Woody Allen)

  • "If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to it!"
    (Jonathan Winters)

Pronunciation: ek-SKLAM-eh-tor-ee SENT-ensAudio Link

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