Pronunciation: as-te-is'-mus
Alternate Spelling: Also sp. asteismos, astysmus, astismus
Polite or genteel mockery. More specifically, a figure of reply in which the answerer catches a certain word and throws it back to the first speaker with an unexpected twist.
In the following selection from Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, Beatrice and Benedick vie to see which can outdo the other in the use of asteismus: Benedick: God keep your ladyship still in that mind! [of not marrying] so some gentleman or other shall scape a predestinate scratch'd face. Beatrice: Scratching could not make it worse, an 't were such a face as yours were. Benedick: Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher. Beatrice: A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours.