acyron acyron
 ak'-y-ron Gk. "without authority"
improprietas
uncouthe

The use of a word repugnant or contrary to what is meant.
 
Examples
  “Never could I have hoped for such great woe” —Aeneid 4.419
Related Figures
 

See Also
 

  • Figures of Speech: Vices
    This term is best understood within the larger context of discussions regarding the propriety of words.
 
  Sources: Quintilian 8.2.3-4; Susenbrotus (1540) 11-12 ("acyrologia," "acyron")


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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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