What does epirrhematic mean?
Epirrhematic is a technical adjective used almost exclusively in classical scholarship to describe something relating to an epirrhema — the spoken or recited portion of a choral ode in ancient Greek drama. In tragedy, choral songs were not uniformly sung: they could alternate lyric passages (strophes and antistrophes performed by the chorus) with sections delivered in ordinary recitation, sometimes exchanged with actors, and it is these latter portions that are called epirrhematic. The term derives from Greek roots combining epi ('upon') and rhēma ('a thing said'), literally pointing to what is 'spoken' within a song. Readers will encounter it chiefly in discussions of Aristotle's Poetics, analyses of the kommos in plays such as Sophocles' Ajax, and editorial commentary on Greek tragic texts. Outside classical philology it is essentially unknown, so its use signals specialist knowledge rather than everyday vocabulary.
adjectiveRelating to or of the nature of an epirrhema — the spoken or recited section that alternates with sung portions in ancient Greek choral odes, especially in tragedy.
- Relating to an epirrhema, the recited portion of a choral ode in ancient Greek drama, which alternated with sung strophes and antistrophes.
"The chorus's epirrhematic passages carry much of the play's rhetorical argument."
"Aristotle notes that the kommos alternates lyrical laments with epirrhematic speech between actor and chorus."
"Modern editors often mark the epirrhematic sections of a stasimon separately from the sung lyrics."
In ancient Greek tragedy, the chorus didn't only sing — it also spoke, and 'epirrhematic' names precisely those recited stretches woven into the song.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of epirrhematic
Epirrhematic comes from the Greek ἐπιρρηματικός (epirrhēmatikos), formed on ἐπίρρημα (epirrhēma), meaning 'that which is said over or in addition', from epi ('upon') plus rhēma ('word, thing said'). The word entered scholarly Latin and then English usage through the tradition of classical commentary on Greek tragedy, particularly in connection with Aristotle's discussion of lyric and spoken elements in drama. Its cognates include the rarer adjective rhematic, built on the same noun rhēma.
Related word forms
How epirrhematic is actually used
A highly technical term confined almost entirely to classical scholarship, especially studies of Greek tragedy and Aristotle's Poetics. It appears almost exclusively in academic writing.
Easily confused with epirrhematic
'Thematic' means relating to a theme or subject, while 'epirrhematic' specifically describes sections of ancient Greek choral odes delivered as recitation.