Adynaton: Definition, Usage, and Examples
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Adynaton: Definition and Usage An adynaton derives from the Greek word "adunaton," meaning "impractical" or "impossible." It serves as a rhetorical device that takes exaggeration to such an extreme level that it becomes utterly implausible. Essentially, adynaton is a form of hyperbole magnified to the point of impossibility. It employs exaggerated comparisons or contrasts to emphasize a particular point or idea. Adynaton and Hyperbole Adynaton is a subset of hyperbole, distinguished by its extreme nature. While hyperbole involves exaggeration, adynaton takes it to an extreme level where the exaggeration is so unrealistic that it borders on the impossible. Examples of Adynaton in Literature Example #1: "To His Coy Mistress" (By Andrew Marvell)
"Had we but world enough, and time
This coyness, lady, were no crime.
We would sit down, and think which way
To walk, and pass our long love’s day.
Thou by the Indian…