Choose the correct one-word substitute for: 'A speech or piece of writing that praises someone highly'.

Correct — B. An encomium is formal, high praise of a person or thing, in a speech or in writing. That matches the definition in the stem: a speech or piece of writing that praises someone highly.

The word comes from Greek enkōmion, praise sung for a victor in a celebratory procession → option (b).

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  Elegy — Elegy is a mournful poem, typically a lament for the dead. It mourns where an encomium praises, and it is easily confused with eulogy, a speech that praises someone, often someone who has died.
• (c)
  Sermon — Sermon is a talk on a religious or moral subject, usually given by a preacher during a service. Its aim is instruction, not praise of a person.
• (d)
  Soliloquy — Soliloquy is speaking one's thoughts aloud when alone, especially by a character in a play, as Hamlet does. It is defined by the absence of listeners, not by praise.

A one-word substitution gives the definition and asks for the word. Here every option is a kind of speech or writing, so the form alone decides nothing. The purpose decides.

An elegy mourns, a sermon instructs, and a soliloquy thinks aloud. An encomium exists to praise.

Its close synonyms are eulogy, often praise of someone who has died, and panegyric, a public speech or text in praise of someone.

Key facts

• An encomium is a formal speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly.
• Eulogy and panegyric are close synonyms of encomium.
• An elegy is a mournful poem, typically a lament for the dead.
• A soliloquy is a speech in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud while alone.

Common traps

• Mixing up elegy, a lament, with eulogy, a speech of praise
• Choosing Soliloquy or Sermon because they are also speeches, without checking the purpose

No directly related past PYQ was found.