Homeoteleuton (from the Greek 'ομοιοτέλευτον,Silva Rhetoricae (2006). Rhetorical Figures for Shakespeare and the Scriptures homoioteleuton, "like ending") is the repetition of endings in words. Homeoteleuton is also known as near rhyme.Brigham Young University (2006). Rhetorical Figures for Shakespeare and the Scriptures

History

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Homeoteleuton was first identified by Aristotle in his Rhetoric, where he identifies it as two lines of verse which end with words having the same ending. He uses the example of

ωιηθησαν αυτον παιδον τετοκεναι
αλλ' αυτου αιτον γεγονεναι (1410a20)

ôiêthêsan auton paidion tetokenai,
all' autou aition gegonenai (1410a20)

they thought that he was the father of a child,
but that he was the cause of it (1410a20)Perseus Digital Library (2006). Aristotle, Rhetoric

In Latin rhetoric and poetry homeoteleuton was a frequently used device. It was used to associate the two words which had the similar endings and bring them to the reader's attention.

Types of Homeoteleuton

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Today, homeoteleuton denotes more than Aristotle's original definition.

Near Rhyme

As rhyme, homeoteleuton is not very effective. It is the repetition of word endings. Because endings are usually unstressed and rhyme arises from stressed syllables, they do not rhyme well at all. In the following passage

The waters rose rapidly,
and I dove under quickly.

both rapidly and quickly end with the adverbial ending -ly. Although they end with the same sound, they don't rhyme because the stressed syllable on each word (RA-pid-ly and QUICK-ly) has a different sound. (2006). The Beste Rym I Kan: The Emergence of Rhyme in English

Scribal Error

In the field of palaeography homeoteleuton has also come to mean a form of copyist error present in ancient texts. A scribe would be writing out a new copy of a frequently reproduced book, such as the Bible. As the scribe was reading the original text, his or her eyes would skip from one word to the same word on a later line, leaving out a line or two in the transcription. When transcripts were made of the scribe's flawed copy (and not the original) errors are passed on into posterity.

An example of this can be found in the Bible, more specifically in I Samuel 11. The Israelite city of Jabesh-Gilead was under siege by the Ammonites:

Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and camped against Jabesh-gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee. But Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition I will make a covenant with you, that I thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel. (I Samuel 11.1-2)

Prior passages do not explain Nahash's desire to blind the Israelites, and scholars have been unable to explain this punishment in the context of the Bible. A find from the Dead Sea scrolls, the scroll 4QSam, gives the missing beginning the I Samuel 11, which can be seen here.Lehrhaus Judaica (2006). Fifty Years of the Dead Sea Scrolls

References

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Palaeography | Linguistics | Figures of speech | Rhetoric

Homoioteleuton