Definition of Hyperbole: Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect. It’s an intentional and imaginative overstatement or embellishment used in rhetoric and literature to evoke strong feelings or create a strong impression, but not meant to be taken literally.
Etymology and Origin: The word “hyperbole” comes from the Greek word “ὑπερβολή” (hyperbolē), which means “excess” or “exaggeration.” The term is composed of two parts: “ὑπέρ” (hyper), meaning “over,” and “βάλλειν” (ballein), meaning “to throw.” So, literally, it means “to throw over” or “to throw beyond.”
- Greek Roots: In ancient Greek rhetoric, hyperbolē was used to describe a way of speaking that exaggerated facts or circumstances for rhetorical effect.
- Latin Influence: The word was adopted into Latin as “hyperbole.”
- Introduction to English: It entered the English language in the 16th century, maintaining its original meaning from Greek rhetoric.
In essence, “hyperbole” has maintained its figurative meaning of exaggeration or overstatement from its ancient Greek origins to its use in modern language.
