bathos

Meanings

• Noun

  A literary device used for an exaggerated or unexpected effect, often resulting in an ironic or humorous contrast.

  - "The king's entrance into the room was met with complete silence, but when he tripped over his own robe, the court erupted in laughter – a perfect example of bathos."
  - "The hero's victory was short-lived, as he was defeated by a common ant in the very next scene – a moment of bathos in the story."

---

Antonyms

pathos , depth , nadir

---

Synonyms

anticlimax , banality , triteness , chewing the scenery, , hamminess , cheesiness , sappiness , treacliness , tweeness , callowness , immaturity

---

Variants

List of all variants of bathos that leads to same result
bathos , bathoses

---

Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From the Greek word 'bathos' meaning 'depth' or 'depression'. In literature, it refers to a sudden shift from the lofty to the lowly.

---

Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. Bathos was a popular literary device in ancient Greek comedy, where it was used to poke fun at the arrogance and pretentiousness of the upper classes.

2. The term 'bathos' was first used in a literary context by the ancient Greek critic Longinus in his treatise 'On the Sublime'.

---

Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. Irony: Both bathos and irony involve the use of unexpected contrasts, but while bathos focuses on the juxtaposition of the lofty and the lowly, irony deals with the gap between what is said and what is meant.

2. Paradox: Both bathos and paradox involve the use of unexpected or contradictory statements, but while bathos creates a humorous or ironic effect, paradox challenges the audience to think deeply about the meaning of the statement.

---

Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

Bathos has been used extensively in literature, particularly in satire and comedy, to create humorous or ironic effects. It is often used to deflate pomposity or exaggerated language.

How to Memorize "bathos"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine a scene where a powerful character is about to deliver a grand speech, only to trip and fall flat on their face – this is an example of bathos.

2. associate
   

   - Associate bathos with sudden shifts in tone or context, like a comedian telling a serious joke or a tragic hero experiencing a moment of humor.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Remember the acronym B.A.T.H.O.S: Big And Then Hilariously Ordinary Situation.

---

Memorize "bathos" using Dictozo

The best and recommended way to memorize bathos is, by using Dictozo. Just save the word in Dictozo extension and let the app handle the rest. It enhances the memorization process in two ways:

1. Highlighting:

   Whenever users encounters the saved word on a webpage, Dictozo highlights it, drawing the user's attention and reinforcing memorization.
2. Periodic Reminders:

   Dictozo will send you periodic reminders to remind you the saved word, it will ask you quiz. These reminders could be in the form of notifications or emails, prompting users to recall and reinforce their knowledge.