rhetoric

Where does the word "rhetoric" come from? It comes from Greek rhētorikē, passing through Latin before entering English (1300s).

Rhetoric’s story begins in Greek: rhētorikē meant “art of oratory.” Short for 'the art of the public speaker'; Aristotle wrote the defining treatise on it. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as rhetorica. One of the three core medieval school subjects with grammar and logic. It reached English by 1300s as rhetoric. Has since gained a negative sense of empty, insincere talk. Today, rhetoric means persuasive speaking or writing, often suggesting insincerity.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient rhētorikē "art of oratory", short for 'the art of the public speaker'; Aristotle wrote the defining treatise on it.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient rhetorica "rhetoric", one of the three core medieval school subjects with grammar and logic.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s rhetoric "the art of persuasion", has since gained a negative sense of empty, insincere talk.