diasyrmus
Many years ago a popular columnist, Bill Cunningham of the Boston Herald was convinced that water could be found by "dowsing". He had a friend, he wrote, who had been able to locate water in Bermuda,by pointing his dowsing rod at a map of Bermuda.I cite that story when anyone tells me they believe in dowsing. Can I call that "diasyrmos"?

di'-a-syrm-os Gk. "a tearing in pieces"
Also sp. diasyrmos
elevatio, irrisio, vexatio



Rejecting an argument through ridiculous comparison.

Examples
Arguing that we can clean up government by better regulating elections is like asking a dog to quit marking his territory by lifting his hind leg.
Related Figures
Figures of Refutation
apodioxis
hyperbole

Related Topics of Invention
Comparison

See Also


Sources: Aquil. 15 ("diasyrmus," "elevatio," "irrisio"); Sherry (1550) 61 ("diasirmus," "elevacio"); Peacham (1577) D4r



© 1996-2003, Gideon O. Burton, Brigham Young University
Please cite "Silva Rhetoricae" (rhetoric.byu.edu)



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