Anaphora

//ænəˈfɔɹə// noun

noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The repetition of a phrase at the beginning of phrases, sentences, or verses, used for emphasis. countable, rhetoric, uncountable

    "Anaphora elegantly begins With the same word or phrase successive lines."

  2. 2
    plural of anaphor form-of, plural
  3. 3
    repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses wordnet
  4. 4
    An expression that refers to a preceding expression. countable, uncountable
  5. 5
    using a pronoun or similar word instead of repeating a word used earlier wordnet
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  1. 6
    The 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. countable, uncountable

Example

More examples

"Anaphora elegantly begins With the same word or phrase successive lines."

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἀναφορά (anaphorá, “a carrying back”), from ἀνά (aná, “up”) + φέρω (phérō, “I carry”).

Related phrases

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.