... For the literary term apostrophe, see here. The word apostrophe comes from the Greek word “apostrophé” which means “turning back” which is a common term in Greek literary drama and works such as in Homer’s Odyssey. Not to be confused with the punctuation mark used in contractions (like 'don't') and to show possession (like 'the student's grade'), this apostrophe is a figure of speech, where a character addresses either an object, idea, or imaginary person as if they were there in the room with them. The Etymology of the Word Apostrophe. Download 5 ready-to-use apostrophe worksheets that are perfect to test student knowledge and understanding of what an apostrophe is. Another literary device used by writers is apostrophe. Apostrophe definition is - a mark ' used to indicate the omission of letters or figures, the possessive case (as in 'John's book'), or the plural of letters or figures (as in 'the 1960's'). How to use apostrophe … You’ll find many writers use both of these in addition to apostrophe as a literary … Apostrophe can be either a punctuation mark or a literary device. Define apostrophe. Apostrophe (Greek ἀποστροφή, apostrophé, "turning away"; the final e being sounded) is an exclamatory figure of speech. Definition of Apostrophe. To learn more about how apostrophe is learned, brush up on personification and anthropomorphism. Thou art the ruins of the noblest man It occurs when a speaker breaks off from addressing the audience (e.g. O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, That I am meek and gentle with these butchers! apostrophe definition: 1. the symbol ’ used in writing to show when a letter or a number has been left out, as in I'm (= I…. For example, in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Mark Antony addresses the corpse of Caesar in the speech that begins:. apostrophe synonyms, apostrophe pronunciation, apostrophe translation, English dictionary definition of apostrophe. Learn more. Apostrophe has a lot in common with some other important literary devices. Other Literary Devices Like Apostrophe. Definition of Apostrophe An apostrophe can be defined as, A type of punctuation mark which is extensively used to indicate possession and also used when certain words are contracted is called apostrophe (’). The apostrophe is also used as a mark to … As a punctuation mark, it signifies elision and is used when letters or words are contracted and sounds are omitted or merged. In literature, apostrophe is a figure of speech which is used to address an absent or imaginary person, a real or imagined object or an abstract quality as if it were a living thing and present before the speaker. The word apostrophe derives from the Greek word apostrophos, which means turning away. Examples of Apostrophes Indicating Omission of Letters. An apostrophe is a punctuation mark that primarily serves to indicate either grammatical possession or the contraction of two words. in a play) and directs speech to a third party such as an opposing litigant or … Apostrophe, a rhetorical device by which a speaker turns from the audience as a whole to address a single person or thing. An apostrophe (’) is a type of punctuation used for two purposes: to create contractions, and to create the possessive form of a noun. An apostrophe is a figure of speech or literary device where an absent or nonexistent person or thing is addressed as if present and can understand. Truth be told, apostrophes cause a lot of problems for writers—they are often misused, misplaced, and misunderstood! Apostrophe definition: An apostrophe is a punctuation mark used to show possession or to show the omission of letters. 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