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"gradatio"
Definition: Sentence construction in which the last word of one clause becomes the first of the next, through three or more clauses (an extended form of anadiplosis).
Etymology:
From the Greek, "climax."
Examples:
- "After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor. Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud. Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah."
(Matthew 1: 12-16)
- "We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
(Paul, Romans 5:3)
- "She abandoned religion for mesmerism, mesmerism for politics, and politics for the melodramatic excitements of philanthropy."
(Vivian in Oscar Wilde’s "The Decay of Lying")
- "All our knowledge brings us nearer to our ignorance,
All our ignorance brings us nearer to death,
But nearness to death no nearer to God."
(T. S. Eliot, Choruses from "The Rock")
- "It takes an egg to make a hen
It takes a hen to make an egg
There is no end to what I'm saying
It takes a thought to make a word
And it takes a word to make an action."
(Jason Mraz, "Life is Wonderful")
- "Fear leads to anger; anger leads to hatred; hatred leads to conflict; conflict leads to suffering."
(Yoda, Star Wars: Episode I)
- "They call for you: The general who became a slave; the slave who became a gladiator; the gladiator who defied an Emperor. Striking story."
(Joaquin Phoenix in the film Gladiator)
Pronunciation: gra-DA-see-o Also Known As: incrementum and "the marching figure" (Puttenham)
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