From the Mind of Trevor Stone

adoxography - n. fine writing on a minor or trivial subject; rhetorical praise of things of doubtful value.


Unlike most rhetorical terms, this is NOT from ancient Greek, but rather coined at the start of the 20th century to describe an ancient Greek practice of having students of rhetoric make speeches praising such things as gout or fleas. The roots are Late Latin adoxus, paradoxical or absurd, borrowed by Erasmus from Greek adoxus, inglorious + graphos, writing. As an example, we can again point to Erasmus and his Praise of Folly.

Sorry for the light posting this week -- external obligations. Which will continue next holiday week -- regular posting should resume on the 30th.

---L.