Agency Dictionary

literary device

nounPronunciation: /ˈlɪt.ə.rer.i dɪˈvaɪs/

Writing & Narrative

What does “literary device” mean?

A technique that a writer uses to produce a particular effect or to convey meaning, such as metaphor, irony, repetition, quotation or aphorism.

Etymology

A compound of literary, from Latin litterarius, "of or pertaining to letters or writing", from littera, "letter", and device, from Old French devis, "division, plan, design", from Latin divisus, past participle of dividere, "to divide". A literary device is a technique a writer uses to produce a particular effect, such as metaphor, irony, alliteration or foreshadowing.

Synonyms

rhetorical device
figure of speech
literary technique

Word family

literature
literary
literate
literacy

Usage examples

Quotes and Aphorisms are both literary devices very common for writers and readers.
Writing.2 - Aphorisms

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

Writing.2 - AphorismsSeptember 21, 2023Read the edition

Words of the same theme

Antithesisnoun: A person, thing, or concept that represents the direct or exact opposite of another.
Rebirthnoun: A new beginning after a period of decline or destruction, used in mythology to describe the cyclical return to life after death. In Archetype.0, rebirth is the defining characteristic of both the Bennu and the Phoenix.
Discursiveadjective: Proceeding by reasoned argument or sequential exposition rather than by immediate visual intuition.
paperweightnoun: A small, heavy object placed on loose sheets of paper to prevent them from scattering or blowing away.
omissionnoun: The intentional or accidental act of leaving something out or excluding details from a statement or text.
Treatisenoun: A formal, systematic, and comprehensive written work dealing methodically with the principles and evidence of a particular philosophical, scientific, or technical subject.
Accuracynoun: The degree of precision, correctness, and exactitude with which a message or action reaches its intended mark.
Acronymnoun: A word formed from the initial components of a longer name or phrase. It simplifies complex institutional designations into recognizable units.

Also from these editions: terms

quotationnoun: A group of words taken verbatim from a published text or speech and repeated by another author.
eppur si muoveother: An Italian phrase meaning and yet it moves. It is used to affirm that a fact remains true no matter who denies it.
Maximnoun: A concise statement expressing a fundamental principle, general truth, or practical rule of conduct.
verbatimadjective: In exactly the same words as the original, word for word. Said of a quotation or a transcription that changes nothing.
clevernessnoun: The mental quality of being quick-witted, agile, and ingenious in solving specific situational problems.
rhetoricnoun: The art of effective and persuasive speaking or writing, especially through strategic linguistic devices.
collective consciousnessnoun: The set of beliefs, ideas and feelings shared by the members of a society, which exists beyond any single person. By extension, what a community knows and repeats in common.
Byproductnoun: A secondary, often unexpected result or incidental creation derived from an ongoing process or effort.
catalystnoun: A substance or factor that accelerates a chemical reaction or stimulates widespread systemic change without being consumed.
comfort zonenoun: The set of situations and habits in which a person feels safe and in control, without risk or anxiety. Leaving it is commonly described as a condition for learning and growth.
conciseadjective: Expressing comprehensive meaning clearly in few words, without superfluous or redundant phrasing.
Hectarenoun: A metric unit of surface area equal to ten thousand square meters or roughly 2.471 acres.