homoioptoton homoioptoton
 ho-mee-op-to'-ton from Gk. homios, "like" and ptosis, "case"
Also sp. homeoeptoton
similiter cadens
like inflections

The repetition of similar case endings in adjacent words or in words in parallel position.
 
Examples
  From the Carmina Burana comes this extended example of homoioptoton. Parallel words are bolded 
Quod Spiritu David precinuit
	nunc exposuit
nobis Deus et sic innotuit:
Sarracenus sepulchrum polluit,
	quo recubuit
qui pro nobis crucifixus fuit
	dum sic voluit
mortem pati cruce, nec meruit!

Note: Since this figure only works with inflected languages, it has often been conflated with homoioteleuton and (at least in English) has sometimes become equivalent to simple rhyme: "To no avail, I ate a snail"

Related Figures
 
See Also
 

 
  Sources: Ad Herennium 4.20.28 ("similiter cadens"); Quinitilian 9.3.78; Isidore 1.36.15; Sherry (1550) 58 ("homioptoton," "similiter cadens"); Peacham (1577) K1v


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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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