definition of polyptoton
Look up polyptoton in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Polyptoton /ËpÉlÉ¨pËtoÊtÉn/ is the stylistic scheme in which words derived from the same root are repeated (such as strong and strength). A related stylistic device is antanaclasis, in which the same word is repeated, but each time with a different sense. Another related term is figura etymologica. In inflected languages polyptoton is the same word being repeated but appearing each time in a different case. (for example, Iuppiter, Iovis, Iovi, Iovem, Iove [in Latin being the nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, and ablative forms of Iuppiter, respectively]).