θαυμος, in Rhetoric, denotes a kind of counter argument, whereby something alleged for the adversary is retorted against him, and made to conclude a different way: for instance, Occidisti, quia aucti- sti interfecisti.—θαυμος, Immo quia aucti interfecisti, non occidi; num si id esset, in fugam me consciscerem. "You killed the person because you were found standing by his body. Biaum, Rather I did not kill him because I was found standing by his body; since, in the other case, I should have fled away."

in the Grecian laws, was an action brought against those who ravished women, or used violence to any man's person.