polyptoton

Via Latin, from Ancient Greek πολύπτωτον (polúptōton), neuter of πολύπτωτος (polúptōtos, “having many cases”), from πολύς (polús, “many”) + πίπτω (píptō, “I fall”).

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌpɑ.ləpˈtoʊ.tɑn/

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polyptoton (plural polyptota or polyptotons)

1. (rhetoric) A stylistic scheme in which words from the same root are used together, or a word is repeated in a different inflection or case.

An example of polyptoton appears in the following quote with variation on the word feed:

• c1595, William Shakespeare, Richard II, act II, scene i,

  With eager feeding food doth choke the feeder.

• (rhetoric): ploce

• Category:English cognate expressions