Chreia
/ˈkriːə/noun
A brief anecdote or saying attributed to a notable person, especially in ancient rhetorical teaching.
Did you know?In ancient Greek rhetorical education, a chreia could function like a verbal spell: a short, memorable saying repeated until it became a tool for persuasion and authority.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
GR
χρεία
“need, use, occasion; later, a short anecdote or saying with practical value”
Late Greek / Hellenistic
GR
χρεία
“a brief instructive anecdote or saying used in rhetorical training”
Latin
LA
chria
“a rhetorical anecdote or maxim”
16th Century
EN
chreia
“a brief anecdote or saying used in classical rhetoric”
Modern English
EN
chreia
“an anecdote or saying attributed to a person, especially in rhetorical studies”