Rhetorical means meant to persuade — or, of a question, asked without wanting an answer. Both senses come from the same art.
Rhetoric is the ancient study of persuasive speech, and it was one of the core subjects of a classical education. The adjective now often carries a note of suspicion, since rhetorical flourish suggests style rather than substance. The commonest everyday use by far is the rhetorical question, which is asked for effect, as in who could possibly object. The noun rhetoric is frequently used to mean empty talk.
1adjectiveintendedIntended to persuade or impress rather than inform.
“It was a rhetorical device rather than an argument.”
2adjectiverhetoricalOf a question, asked for effect and not needing an answer.
“That was a rhetorical question.”
rhetORical → a STORY being told, not a question being asked
He asks the room a question and does not wait for anybody to answer, because he is telling a story and the question was only part of it.
hooks ontostory
Ancient Greek
ῥητορικός — concerning public speaking
Latin
rēthoricus
Middle English
rethorycal
English, today
rhetorical
From Middle English rethorycal, rethoricalle, rethorycall, from rethorik, rhetoric or Latin rēthoricus, rhētoricus, from Ancient Greek ῥητορικός (“concerning public speaking”). by surface analysis, rhetoric + -al.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA