hypostrophe

H4Y4P3O1S1T1R1O1P3H4E1

noun

The act of a patient turning himself or herself.

Scrabble 24

Meanings

nounhypostrophe (countable and uncountable, plural hypostrophes)

plural hypostrophes

  1. countableobsoleteuncountablemedicineThe act of a patient turning himself or herself.
  2. countableobsoleteuncountablemedicineA relapse; a return of a disease.

    Whenever the temperature remains elevated, however slightly, and generally when the temperature rises still more, we may confidently assume that the healing process is yet incomplete, or that a fresh malady, a sequela, or a hypostrophe is being developed.

    1871, C. A. Wunderlich, “The Course of the Temperature in Febrile Diseases” (chapter 11), in W. Bathurst Woodman, transl., On the Temperature in Diseases: A Manual of Medical Thermometry, London: New Sydenham Society, page 275
  3. countablerhetoricuncountableA return to the main theme following an insertion or parenthesis.
    1 more example

    In addition, the initial σὺ of line 14 completes the series in 6 and 12, providing an extended epanaphora through the mid-section of II, and supplies a slight hypostrophe (catches up the thread of the narrative after a parenthesis and makes a fresh start by either repeating the subject or adding a demonstrative) after the trinitarian parenthesis of 12–13.

    1990, Daniel J. Sheerin, “The Anaphora of the Liturgy of St John Chrysostom: Stylistic Notes” (chapter 3), in David Jasper, R. C. D. Jasper, editors, Language and the Worship of the Church, London: Palgrave Macmillan, →DOI, →ISBN, page 51

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekὑποστροφή
  2. Englishhypostrophe

From Ancient Greek ὑποστροφή (hupostrophḗ), from ὑποστρέφω (hupostréphō, “to turn round or back”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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