Repetition & Refrain
Polyptoton
Repeating a word in different forms, such as “judge” and “judgment.” The related forms connect different uses of the same idea.
"The Greeks are strong, and skilful to their strength, / Fierce to their skill, and to their fierceness valiant." — Shakespeare
Don't confuse it with Epizeuxis, Diacope. Simple repetition (epizeuxis, diacope) repeats the same form; polyptoton morphs the word as it returns.
Examples
The judge must judge without prejudging.
“Judge” appears as a noun and verb, then in the derived form “prejudging.”
Often used alongside this device
Explore devices that often appear in the same passages as polyptoton.
Anaphora 9 Asyndeton 6 Parataxis 6 Personification 5 Isocolon 5 Synecdoche 4 Passive Voice 4 Chiasmus 4
The rest of the family
Anaphora Epistrophe Symploce Epanalepsis Anadiplosis Gradatio / Climax Epizeuxis Diacope Conduplicatio