Main Entry:

rhe·tor·i·cal

Pronunciation:

\ri-ˈtȯr-i-kəl, -ˈtär-\

Variant(s):

also rhe·tor·ic \ri-ˈtȯr-ik, -ˈtär-\

Function:

adjective

Date:

15th century

1 a: of, relating to, or concerned with rhetoric b: employed for rhetorical effect ; especially : asked merely for effect with no answer expected <a rhetorical question>2 a: given to rhetoric : grandiloquent b: verbal

— rhe·tor·i·cal·ly \-i-k(ə-)lē\ adverb