Meanings
plural anaphoras · alternative anaphoras · alternative anaphors · alternative anaphors
- countablerhetoricuncountableThe repetition of a phrase at the beginning of phrases, sentences, or verses, used for emphasis.
Anaphora elegantly begins With the same word or phrase successive lines.
1835, L[arret] Langley, “[Rhetorical Turns.] Anaphora.”, in A Manual of the Figures of Rhetoric, […], Doncaster, South Yorkshire: […] C. White, […], →OCLC, page 73Antonyms: epiphora, epistrophe
- countableuncountablehuman sciencesAn expression that refers to a preceding expression.
Antonyms: cataphora
- countableuncountableChristianityThe most solemn part of the Divine Liturgy or the Mass during which the offerings of bread and wine are consecrated as body and blood of Christ.
Synonyms: Eucharistic Prayer
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe repetition of a phrase at the beginning of phrases, sentences, or verses, used for emphasis.
nounAn expression that refers to a preceding expression.
nounThe most solemn part of the Divine Liturgy or the Mass during which the offerings of bread and wine are consecrated as body and blood of Christ.
More synonyms by meaning
nounrepetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂en-
- Proto-Hellenic*aná
- Ancient Greekᾰ̓νᾰ́ (ănắ)
- Ancient Greekἀνα- (ana-)
- Proto-Indo-European*bʰer-
- Proto-Indo-European*bʰéreti
- Proto-Hellenic*pʰérō
- Ancient Greekφέρω (phérō)
- Ancient Greekᾰ̓νᾰφέρω (ănăphérō)
- Ancient Greekᾰ̓νᾰφορᾱ́ (ănăphorā́)
- Englishanaphora
From Ancient Greek ἀναφορά (anaphorá, “a carrying back”), from ἀνά (aná, “up”) + φέρω (phérō, “I carry”).
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Basque anafora
- anaforarhetoric: repetition of a phrase used for emphasis
Catalan anàfora, anàfora
- anàforarhetoric: repetition of a phrase used for emphasis
- anàforalinguistics: an expression refers to a preceding expression
Czech anafora, anafora
- anaforarhetoric: repetition of a phrase used for emphasis
- anaforalinguistics: an expression refers to a preceding expression
Dutch anafoor, anafora
- anafoorrhetoric: repetition of a phrase used for emphasis
- anaforarhetoric: repetition of a phrase used for emphasis
- anafoorlinguistics: an expression refers to a preceding expression
- anaforalinguistics: an expression refers to a preceding expression
Finnish toisto, anafora
- toistorhetoric: repetition of a phrase used for emphasis
- anaforarhetoric: repetition of a phrase used for emphasis
- anaforalinguistics: an expression refers to a preceding expression
French anaphore, anaphore
- anaphorerhetoric: repetition of a phrase used for emphasis
- anaphorelinguistics: an expression refers to a preceding expression
German Anapher, Anapher
- Anapherrhetoric: repetition of a phrase used for emphasis
- Anapherlinguistics: an expression refers to a preceding expression
Hungarian anafora
- anaforarhetoric: repetition of a phrase used for emphasis
Icelandic forklifun, runklifun
- forklifunrhetoric: repetition of a phrase used for emphasis
- runklifunrhetoric: repetition of a phrase used for emphasis
- anafórarhetoric: repetition of a phrase used for emphasis
- endurvísirlinguistics: an expression refers to a preceding expression
Indonesian anafora
- anaforarhetoric: repetition of a phrase used for emphasis
Italian anafora, anafora
- anaforarhetoric: repetition of a phrase used for emphasis
- anaforalinguistics: an expression refers to a preceding expression
Malay anafora
- anaforarhetoric: repetition of a phrase used for emphasis
Polish anafora, anafora
- anaforarhetoric: repetition of a phrase used for emphasis
- anaforalinguistics: an expression refers to a preceding expression
- anaforaChristianity: part of the Divine Liturgy
Portuguese anáfora, anáfora
- anáforarhetoric: repetition of a phrase used for emphasis
- anáforalinguistics: an expression refers to a preceding expression
Russian ана́фора, ана́фора
- ана́фора (anáfora)rhetoric: repetition of a phrase used for emphasis
- ана́фора (anáfora)linguistics: an expression refers to a preceding expression
Spanish anáfora, anáfora
- anáforarhetoric: repetition of a phrase used for emphasis
- anáforalinguistics: an expression refers to a preceding expression
Swedish anafor
- anaforrhetoric: repetition of a phrase used for emphasis
Tagalog saulit
- saulitrhetoric: repetition of a phrase used for emphasis
Cite this entry
anaphora. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anaphora
“anaphora.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anaphora. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “anaphora,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anaphora.
Source: anaphora on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.