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Ciceronian

[sis-ə-ROH-nee-ən]

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Latin, mid 17th century

1.

Characteristic of the work and thought of Cicero. When relating to writing or speech, that which is in a manner similar to that of Cicero; logical and elegant.

Examples of Ciceronian in a sentence

"She delivered a lecture in a Ciceronian manner — clear, logical, and riveting to listen to."

"There was a Ciceronian elegance to the letter, which made logical arguments for the board to consider."

About Ciceronian

Ciceronian is derived from the name of the great Roman statesman, orator, and writer Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BCE). He had an incredible influence on Latin prose style, which in turn directly influenced much European prose.

Did you Know?

Cicero, for whom the word “Ciceronian” was coined, had a style of oratory and prose that relied heavily on subordinate clauses while also being logically balanced. For example, “a room without books is like a body without a soul” is credited to Cicero.

illustration Ciceronian

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