adynaton

English

Examples (exaggeration)

All senses of all words and phrases in all languages from all times.

Examples (impossibility of expression)

I can't even....

Tongue cannot utter and words cannot express, nor can the heart of man conceive what the good God has prepared for those who love him.

I cannot speak enough of this content / It stops me here; it is too much of joy. — Shakespeare, Othello 2.1.196-97

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἀδύνατον (adúnaton, “an impossibility, impracticality”), substantivized neuter singular of ἀδύνατος (adúnatos), from ἀ- (a-, “not, un-”, the alpha privative) + δύναμαι (dúnamai, “to be able”).

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /əˈdɪnəˌtɒn/
  • (US) IPA(key): /əˈdɪnəˌtɑn/
  • Rhymes: -ɒn

Noun

adynaton (plural adynata or adynatons)

  1. (rhetoric) A form of hyperbole that uses exaggeration so magnified as to express impossibility.
  2. (rhetoric) The expression of impossibility of expression.

See also

Further reading

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