Trope

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /tɹəʊp/

Definitions

1. A recurring theme or motif in literature, film, or art that is recognizable and often used for effect ; a figure of speech where a word or phrase is used in a metaphorical or figurative way instead of its literal meaning
2. A familiar pattern or convention repeatedly appearing in storytelling or creative works ; a rhetorical device involving the symbolic or nonliteral use of language
3. A typical or conventional element found frequently in narratives or media ; a stylistic use of language that conveys meaning beyond the literal sense

Etymology: The Greek "tropos" meant simply "a turn" or "a way of turning," and the same root gave Greek "trepein," "to turn," and "tropē," which could mean a turning point of the sun, the solstice. From that physical sense of turning came the idea of a turn of phrase: a figure of speech, where words are bent away from their literal meaning. Latin borrowed the word as "tropus," and English took it from there. The modern sense of a familiar recurring theme grew out of that figurative use. A trope is a conventional device that has been turned so often it becomes a pattern, which is why the same plot twist or stock character can be called a trope. The word is also tied to music, since Greek "tropos" could mean a mode, and the verb "to trope" is derived from the noun.

Synonyms: theme, motif, device