asteismus

A1S1T1E1I1S1M3U1S1

noun

Witty dialog or response.

OriginLatin astĕïsmŏs ← Ancient Greek ἀστείσμός →
Scrabble 11
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Meanings

nounasteismus (uncountable)

alternative astysmus · alternative astismus

  1. rhetoricuncountableWitty dialog or response.
  2. rhetoricuncountableIn dialog, a retort based on a punning use of another speaker's word or metaphor.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekἀστείσμός
  2. Latinastĕïsmŏs“the more refined style of speaking”
  3. Englishasteismus

From Latin astĕïsmŏs (“the more refined style of speaking”), from Ancient Greek ἀστείσμός (asteísmós).

More words from Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

asteismus. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/asteismus

MLA

“asteismus.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/asteismus. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “asteismus,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/asteismus.

Source: asteismus on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.