repetitio

Repetitio is a rhetorical figure in which a word or phrase is intentionally repeated. The term comes from Latin repetitio, meaning "a repeating," derived from repetere, "to repeat." In classical rhetoric, repetitio denotes the deliberate reuse of linguistic material to reinforce meaning, create rhythm, and aid memory.

Repetitio can take several forms. A common type is anaphora, the repetition of a word or phrase at the start of successive clauses. Epistrophe repeats at the end of successive clauses. Symploce combines both by repeating the same words at the beginnings of clauses and at the ends. Repetitio may also involve repeating a whole clause or sentence.

Historically, repetitio features prominently in ancient Greek and Roman oratory and later in medieval preaching and scholastic writings. It appears in the works of Cicero and Quintilian as a standard device for emphasis and cohesion. In later rhetoric, teachers and writers continued to discuss and classify repetition as a central tool of persuasion and style. In modern usage, repetitio is often found in speeches, poetry, and prose to heighten impact, frame motifs, or ensure memorability.

Although effective, repetitio is typically balanced against other figures of speech to avoid monotony; excessive repetition can be perceived as overbearing or simplistic. It remains a fundamental concept in the study of rhetoric and stylistics, closely related to, but distinct from, tautology and redundancy.