homoioteleuton

Homoioteleuton is a rhetorical device and a common scribal error characterized by the repetition of similar-sounding word endings in close succession. It is a form of paronomasia where the similarity lies specifically in the terminal syllables of words. For example, "When I was in Rome, I saw some good dome" demonstrates homoioteleuton through the repetition of the "-ome" sound.

This figure of speech can be employed intentionally in literature and oratory for stylistic effect, often creating a sense of rhythm or emphasis. However, it is also notorious for its potential to mislead scribes during the copying of manuscripts. A scribe, distracted by the similar endings of two consecutive phrases or clauses, might accidentally skip over the text between them, believing they have already copied the phrase when they have not. This phenomenon is known as homoioteleuton error and has led to significant textual variations and omissions in ancient and medieval texts. Recognizing and accounting for homoioteleuton errors is a crucial aspect of textual criticism. The term originates from Greek, meaning "similar ending."