Specialist dictionary

Literary analysis

Specialist vocabulary classified under Literature and rhetoric.

Core vocabulary

120 featured terms

The database can contain more terms than shown here; this page prioritises the strongest mappings.

Imagerynoun

the ability to form mental images of things or events; "he could still hear her in his imagination"

Imaginationnoun

the ability to form mental images of things or events; "he could still hear her in his imagination"

Imagingnoun

the ability to form mental images of things or events; "he could still hear her in his imagination"

Mental imagerynoun

the ability to form mental images of things or events; "he could still hear her in his imagination"

Ambiguitynoun

unclearness by virtue of having more than one meaning

Characterisationnoun

a graphic or vivid verbal description; "too often the narrative was interrupted by long word pictures"; "the author gives a depressing picture o…

Characterizationnoun

a graphic or vivid verbal description; "too often the narrative was interrupted by long word pictures"; "the author gives a depressing picture o…

Choice of wordsnoun

the manner in which something is expressed in words; "use concise military verbiage" - G.S.Patton

Climatenoun

the prevailing psychological state; "the climate of opinion"; "the national mood had changed radically since the last election"

Constructionnoun

a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts; "the structure consisted of a series of arches"; "she wore her hair in an amazi…

Delineationnoun

a graphic or vivid verbal description; "too often the narrative was interrupted by long word pictures"; "the author gives a depressing picture o…

Depictionnoun

a graphic or vivid verbal description; "too often the narrative was interrupted by long word pictures"; "the author gives a depressing picture o…

Dictionnoun

the manner in which something is expressed in words; "use concise military verbiage" - G.S.Patton

Equivocalnessnoun

unclearness by virtue of having more than one meaning

Focalisationnoun

the act of bringing into focus

Focalizationnoun

the act of bringing into focus

Focusingnoun

the act of bringing into focus

Ironynoun

incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs; "the irony of Ireland's copying the nation she most hated"

Moodnoun

the prevailing psychological state; "the climate of opinion"; "the national mood had changed radically since the last election"

Motifnoun

a unifying idea that is a recurrent element in literary or artistic work; "it was the usual ‘boy gets girl’ theme"

Narrativeadjective

consisting of or characterized by the telling of a story; "narrative poetry"

Phraseologynoun

the manner in which something is expressed in words; "use concise military verbiage" - G.S.Patton

Phrasingnoun

the manner in which something is expressed in words; "use concise military verbiage" - G.S.Patton

Picturenoun

a graphic or vivid verbal description; "too often the narrative was interrupted by long word pictures"; "the author gives a depressing picture o…

Plotverb

devise the sequence of events in (a literary work or a play, movie, or ballet); "the writer is plotting a new novel"

Pointverb

indicate the presence of (game) by standing and pointing with the muzzle; "the dog pointed the dead duck"

Point of viewnoun

a mental position from which things are viewed; "we should consider this problem from the viewpoint of the Russians"; "teaching history gave him…

Qualitynoun

(music) the distinctive property of a complex sound (a voice or noise or musical sound); "the timbre of her soprano was rich and lovely"; "the m…

Scenenoun

graphic art consisting of the graphic or photographic representation of a visual percept; "he painted scenes from everyday life"; "figure 2 show…

Scenenoun

the context and environment in which something is set; "the perfect setting for a ghost story"

Settingnoun

the context and environment in which something is set; "the perfect setting for a ghost story"

Standnoun

a mental position from which things are viewed; "we should consider this problem from the viewpoint of the Russians"; "teaching history gave him…

Standpointnoun

a mental position from which things are viewed; "we should consider this problem from the viewpoint of the Russians"; "teaching history gave him…

Structurenoun

a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts; "the structure consisted of a series of arches"; "she wore her hair in an amazi…

Symbolnoun

something visible that by association or convention represents something else that is invisible; "the eagle is a symbol of the United States"

Symbolic representationnoun

something visible that by association or convention represents something else that is invisible; "the eagle is a symbol of the United States"

Symbolisationnoun

something visible that by association or convention represents something else that is invisible; "the eagle is a symbol of the United States"

Symbolismnoun

a system of symbols and symbolic representations

Symbolizationnoun

something visible that by association or convention represents something else that is invisible; "the eagle is a symbol of the United States"

Themenoun

a unifying idea that is a recurrent element in literary or artistic work; "it was the usual ‘boy gets girl’ theme"

Timbernoun

(music) the distinctive property of a complex sound (a voice or noise or musical sound); "the timbre of her soprano was rich and lovely"; "the m…

Timbrenoun

(music) the distinctive property of a complex sound (a voice or noise or musical sound); "the timbre of her soprano was rich and lovely"; "the m…

Tonenoun

(music) the distinctive property of a complex sound (a voice or noise or musical sound); "the timbre of her soprano was rich and lovely"; "the m…

Verbiagenoun

the manner in which something is expressed in words; "use concise military verbiage" - G.S.Patton

Viewnoun

graphic art consisting of the graphic or photographic representation of a visual percept; "he painted scenes from everyday life"; "figure 2 show…

Viewpointnoun

a mental position from which things are viewed; "we should consider this problem from the viewpoint of the Russians"; "teaching history gave him…

Voicenoun

A term used in phonetics and phonology to characterize speech sounds, with sounds described as either voiceless (unvoiced) or voiced.

Word picturenoun

a graphic or vivid verbal description; "too often the narrative was interrupted by long word pictures"; "the author gives a depressing picture o…

Word-paintingnoun

a graphic or vivid verbal description; "too often the narrative was interrupted by long word pictures"; "the author gives a depressing picture o…

Wordingnoun

the manner in which something is expressed in words; "use concise military verbiage" - G.S.Patton

Chimaeranoun

a grotesque product of the imagination

Chimeranoun

a grotesque product of the imagination

Dreamnoun

a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep; "I had a dream about you last night"

Dreamingnoun

a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep; "I had a dream about you last night"

Envisioningnoun

visual imagery

Evocationnoun

imaginative re-creation

Make-believenoun

imaginative intellectual play

Mind's eyenoun

the imaging of remembered or invented scenes; "I could see her clearly in my mind's eye"

Picturingnoun

visual imagery

Pretencenoun

imaginative intellectual play

Pretensenoun

imaginative intellectual play

Visionnoun

a vivid mental image; "he had a vision of his own death"

Allegorynoun

a visible symbol representing an abstract idea

Altarnoun

a raised structure on which gifts or sacrifices to a god are made

Anglenoun

a biased way of looking at or presenting something

Arcadenoun

a structure composed of a series of arches supported by columns

Archnoun

(architecture) a masonry construction (usually curved) for spanning an opening and supporting the weight above it

Areanoun

a part of a structure having some specific characteristic or function; "the spacious cooking area provided plenty of room for servants"

Arenanoun

a large structure for open-air sports or entertainments

Balancenoun

equality of distribution

Balconynoun

a platform projecting from the wall of a building and surrounded by a balustrade or railing or parapet

Balconynoun

an upper floor projecting from the rear over the main floor in an auditorium

Basculenoun

a structure or device in which one end is counterbalanced by the other (on the principle of the seesaw)

Boardingnoun

a structure of boards

Bodynoun

the external structure of a vehicle; "the body of the car was badly rusted"

Bowlnoun

a large structure for open-air sports or entertainments

Bridgenoun

a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.

Buildingnoun

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place; "there was a three-story building on the corner"; "it wa…

Catchmentnoun

a structure in which water is collected (especially a natural drainage area)

Coilnoun

a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops; "a coil of rope"

Colonnadenoun

a structure composed of a series of arches supported by columns

Colonnadenoun

structure consisting of a row of evenly spaced columns

Colornoun

the timbre of a musical sound; "the recording fails to capture the true color of the original music"

Colorationnoun

the timbre of a musical sound; "the recording fails to capture the true color of the original music"

Colournoun

the timbre of a musical sound; "the recording fails to capture the true color of the original music"

Columnnoun

a vertical cylindrical structure standing alone and not supporting anything (such as a monument)

Complexnoun

a whole structure (as a building) made up of interconnected or related structures

Complexionnoun

a point of view or general attitude or inclination; "he altered the complexion of his times"; "a liberal political complexion"

Cornernoun

(architecture) solid exterior angle of a building; especially one formed by a cornerstone

Cornucopianoun

a goat's horn filled with grain and flowers and fruit symbolizing prosperity

Counterbalancenoun

equality of distribution

Crossnoun

a wooden structure consisting of an upright post with a transverse piece

Crossbonesnoun

two crossed bones (or a representation of two crossed bones) used as a symbol danger or death

Defencenoun

a structure used to defend against attack; "the artillery battered down the defenses"

Defensenoun

a structure used to defend against attack; "the artillery battered down the defenses"

Dividernoun

a vertical structure that divides or separates (as a wall divides one room from another)

Doornoun

a structure where people live or work (usually ordered along a street or road); "the office next door"; "they live two doors up the street from…

Edificenoun

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place; "there was a three-story building on the corner"; "it wa…

Emblemnoun

a visible symbol representing an abstract idea

Entablaturenoun

(architecture) the structure consisting of the part of a classical temple above the columns between a capital and the roof

Epithetnoun

descriptive word or phrase

Equilibriumnoun

equality of distribution

Equipoisenoun

equality of distribution

Equivocationnoun

intentionally vague or ambiguous

Erectionnoun

a structure that has been erected

Establishmentnoun

a public or private structure (business or governmental or educational) including buildings and equipment for business or residence

Floornoun

a structure consisting of a room or set of rooms at a single position along a vertical scale; "what level is the office on?"

Fountainnoun

a structure from which an artificially produced jet of water arises

Guidenoun

a structure or marking that serves to direct the motion or positioning of something

Harmonicnoun

any of a series of musical tones whose frequencies are integral multiples of the frequency of a fundamental

Helixnoun

a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops; "a coil of rope"

Hillnoun

structure consisting of an artificial heap or bank usually of earth or stones; "they built small mounds to hide behind"

Honeycombnoun

a structure of small hexagonal cells constructed from beeswax by bees and used to store honey and larvae

Housingnoun

structures collectively in which people are housed

Hullnoun

the frame or body of ship

Impedimentnoun

any structure that makes progress difficult

Laminationnoun

a layered structure

Landingnoun

structure providing a place where boats can land people or goods

Landscapenoun

an extensive mental viewpoint; "the political landscape looks bleak without a change of administration"; "we changed the landscape for solving t…

Levelnoun

a structure consisting of a room or set of rooms at a single position along a vertical scale; "what level is the office on?"