Explanation
The adynaton shifts certainty into a counter-space: It is more likely that the impossible will happen than that the claimed bond or order will break.
Example
It is more likely that the river will flow uphill than that I will forget this promise.
Counterexample
I will probably keep the promise. – A mere statement of probability.
Distinction
Distinguish from hyperbole: The adynaton escalates to the point of explicit impossibility.
Effect on thought and perception
Lends absolute strength to a claim by using the limits of the imaginable as a benchmark.
Resonance
The impossible forms a distant counterpoint against which the intended certainty shines all the more brightly.
Cite this entry
Reich, Michael (Hrsg./ed.): „Adynaton“. Atlas der Sprache, AT-HAR-0002. ATLAS 251, data model 1.6.0. https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-HAR-0002The address remains stable; editorial content may evolve. A verified modification date per entry is not yet available. Include your access date for precise references.