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Glite Dictionary
epideictical

epideictical

9.9
Speech or writing that praises people at ceremonies and celebrates values rather than giving information
  • adjective
  • /ˌɛpɪˈdaɪktɪkəl/
  • Literature
translation icon : epideíctico
  • He delivered an epideictical oration praising the virtues of the retiring principal.

Examples

  • Awards ceremonies often include epideictical addresses that celebrate achievement and community.

  • The professor analyzed several epideictical speeches from ancient Athens in her lecture.

  • The epideictical speech at the graduation ceremony moved everyone.

  • Is this poem meant to be epideictical or informative?

  • The graduation ceremony featured an epideictical speech that honored the students' accomplishments and aspirations.

  • During the festival, an epideictical address was given to commend the local artists and their contributions to the community.

  • The author's latest novel includes an epideictical passage celebrating the beauty of nature and human connection.

Synonyms

rhetorical
vsepideictical
86 7.3

Using showy language to persuade people instead of giving real facts

focuses on ceremonial display rather than persuasion or instruction
epideictic
vsepideictical
  • Literature
9.9

Describes speeches that praise people or things at ceremonies

is identical in meaning but appears as an alternate adjective spelling

How Ceremonial

ceremonial
  • Formal
1 4.6
epideictical
  • Literature
9.9
formal
  • Formal
63 3.0
rhetorical
86 7.3
plain
50 2.5

Surface Forms

epideictical positive

Morphology

epideictical = epideictic (opaque) = epi + deict + ical

The addition of '-al' to 'epideictic' forms an adjective, but the meaning remains specialized and not easily deduced.

Etymology

Epideictical comes from Greek parts epi- and deik-, and deik- means 'to show', like the English word 'show'. So an epideictical speech or piece of writing is meant to 'display' or 'show off' praise at a ceremony, not to argue or give new information.