Homoioptoton

Pronunciation: ho-mee-op-to'-ton

Alternate Spelling: Also sp. homeoeptoton

Definition

The repetition of similar case endings in adjacent words or in words in parallel position.

From the Carmina Burana comes this extended example of homoioptoton. Parallel words are bolded Quod Spiritu David precinuit nunc exposuit nobis Deus et sic innotuit: Sarracenus sepulchrum polluit, quo recubuit qui pro nobis crucifixus fuit dum sic voluit mortem pati cruce, nec meruit! Note: Since this figure only works with inflected languages, it has often been conflated with homoioteleuton and (at least in English) has sometimes become equivalent to simple rhyme: "To no avail, I ate a snail"

Examples

From the Carmina Burana comes this extended example of homoioptoton. Parallel words are bolded Quod Spiritu David precinuit nunc exposuit nobis Deus et sic innotuit: Sarracenus sepulchrum polluit, quo recubuit qui pro nobis crucifixus fuit dum sic voluit mortem pati cruce, nec meruit! Note: Since this figure only works with inflected languages, it has often been conflated with homoioteleuton and (at least in English) has sometimes become equivalent to simple rhyme: "To no avail, I ate a snail"