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Added 9 October 2026

rhetorical

/ɹɪˈtɒɹ.ɪ.kəl/ adjective

Latin root: rēthoricus Wiktionary

adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about rhetorical at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Of or relating to rhetoric.
accepted two or three verbal and rhetorical changes I suggested
Given to rhetoric, emphasizing style at the expense of thought.
mere rhetorical frippery

Origin

From Middle English rethorycal, rethoricalle, rethorycall, from rethorik, rhetoric (noun) or Latin rēthoricus, rhētoricus, from Ancient Greek ῥητορικός (rhētorikós, “concerning public speaking”). By surface analysis, rhetoric + -al.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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