dicaeologia dicaeologia
 di-kay-o-lo'-gi-a Gk. “a plea in defense”
Also sp. dichologia
figure of excuse

Admitting what's charged against one, but excusing it by necessity.
 
Examples
  At the start of 3 Henry VI, the King, making a political compromise, has designated York, rather than his son, to be his heir. When pressed about it by the queen and the prince, he employs dicaeologia in response:

Prince. Father, you cannot disinherit me.
If you be king, why should not I succeed?
King Henry Pardon me, Margaret, pardon me, sweet son,
The Earl of Warwick and the Duke enforc'd me.
—Shakespeare 3 Henry VI 1.1.226-29

Related Figures
 

See Also
 
  • Arrangement: Refutation
  • stasis
    Part of defining the stasis or status of a case included the possibility of admitting a charge but excusing it (see Qualitative Stasis)
 
  Sources: Melanch. ER E4v; Peacham (1577) M4v; Putt. (1589) 237 ("dichologia," "figure of excuse"); Day 1599 96 ("dichologia")


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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Gideon O. Burton, Brigham Young University
Please cite "Silva Rhetoricae" (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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