rhetorical

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Asked only to make a point, without expecting any answer.

   "Who could possibly disagree?" he said, asking a purely rhetorical question.

2. 2
   adj

   Relating to the art of persuasive speaking and writing.

   The speech was full of clever rhetorical techniques like repetition and contrast.

3. 3
   adj

   Emphasizing impressive style at the expense of real substance.

   His essay was mere rhetorical decoration with no genuine ideas behind it.

From Middle English rethorycal, rethoricalle, rethorycall, from rethorik, rhetoric (noun) or Latin rēthoricus, rhētoricus, from Ancient Greek ῥητορικός (rhētorikós, “concerning public speaking”). By surface analysis, rhetoric + -al.

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