encomium n : a formal expression of praise [syn: eulogy, panegyric, paean, pean] [also: encomia (pl)]

English

Pronunciation

• /ɛŋ.koʊ.mɪ.əm/

Noun

1. warm praise, especially a formal expression of such praise; a tribute

   I rejoined our people, and expected a reprimand for having forced the enemy without orders; though I had my excuse ready. But here I was mistaken; for I met with nothing but encomiums. — M. Le Page Du Pratz, "History of Louisiana" (PG), p. 39

French

Pronunciation

• /ɑ̃.kɔ.mjɔm/

Noun

fr-noun m

1. An Ancient Greek literary genre of praise.
2. Dictionary.

Synonyms

• dictionnaire

Encomium is a Latin word deriving from the Classical Greek ενκωμιον (encomion) meaning the praise of a person or thing. Related to this general meaning, "encomium" also identifies several distinct aspects of rhetoric:

• A general category of oratory
• A method within rhetorical pedagogy
• A figure of speech. As a figure, encomium means praising a person or thing, but occurring on a smaller scale than an entire speech.
• The eighth exercise in the progymnasmata series
• A genre of literature that included five elements: prologue, birth and upbringing, acts of the person's life, comparisons used to praise the subject, and an epilogue.

Famous encomia

• Gorgias's Encomium of Helen is one of the most famous historical encomia. In it, Gorgias offers several justifications for excusing Helen of Troy's adultery -- notably, that she was persuaded by speech, which is a "powerful lord" or "powerful drug" depending on the translation.
• A kind of encomium is used by the Christian writer Paul in his praise of love in 1 Corinthians 13. The prologue is verses 1-3, acts are v. 4-7, comparison is v. 8-12, and epilogue is 13:13-14:1. (From David E. Garland, Baker Exegetical Commentary, 1 Corinthians, 606, based on the work of Sigountos.)
• In Erasmus's Praise of Folly, Folly composes an encomium to herself. It is an ironic encomium because being praised by Folly is backwards praise; therefore, Folly praising herself is an ironic conundrum.

acclaim, acclamation, accolade, applause, approval, citation, commendation, compliment, eulogy, kudos, laud, laudation, magnification, panegyric, plaudits, praise, salutation, tribute