hypophora
|hy-pof-o-ra|
🇺🇸
/haɪˈpɑːfərə/
🇬🇧
/haɪˈpɒfərə/
ask and answer
Etymology
'hypophora' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'hypophora', where 'hypo-' meant 'under' and 'phora' (from 'pherein') meant 'to carry'.
'hypophora' passed into rhetorical Latin and New Latin usage and was later borrowed into modern English in the study of rhetoric as 'hypophora'.
Initially related to the notion of 'carrying under' (literal sense), it evolved into the specialized rhetorical meaning of 'asking a question and immediately answering it'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a rhetorical device in which a speaker or writer asks a question and then immediately answers it.
The politician used hypophora to guide the audience: "What must we do? We must invest in education."
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/07 23:45