apostrophe2

 
Pronunciation: /əˈpɒstrəfi/

noun

Rhetoric
  • an exclamatory passage in a speech or poem addressed to a person (typically one who is dead or absent) or thing (typically one that is personified).

Origin:

mid 16th century: via Latin from Greek apostrophē 'turning away', from apostrephein 'turn away' (see apostrophe1)