2. 1. (figure of speech) a rhetorical device an absent or nonexistent thing is addressed as if it is present and capable of being understood Examples Blue Moon, you saw me standing alone Without a dream in my heart Without a love of my own." (Lorenz Hart, "Blue Moon") "Oh! Stars and clouds and winds, ye are all about to mock me; if ye really pity me, crush sensation and memory; let me become as nought; but if not, depart, depart, and leave me in darkness." (Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, 1818) APOSTROPHE

3. 2. (punctuation) a mark of punctuation used to identify a noun in the possessive case or indicate the omission of one or more letters from a word. It’s Chuck’s The children’s APOSTROPHE

4. not seriously; "I meant it facetiously" TONGUE-IN-CHEEK

5. a contradictory statement or idea Examples You can save money by spending it. I'm nobody. "What a pity that youth must be wasted on the young." - George Bernard Shaw A rich man is no richer than a poor man. PARADOX

6. a short story intended to teach a moral truth or lesson PARABLE

7. an indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant EUPHEMISM

8. a concise (brief) statement that expresses a general truth or idea, frequently using rhyme or balance a brief statement of a principle Example: I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." APHORISM

9. adj. Playfully jocular; humorous: FA·CE·TIOUS