catacosmesis

1. Ordering words from greatest to least in dignity, or in correct order of time. (Silva Rhetoricae)

2. Catacosmesis, in Latine ordo, is a meete placing of words among themselves, wherof there be two kinds, the one when the worthiest word is set first, which order is naturall, as when we say: God and man, men and women, Sun and moone, life and death. And also when that is first told that was first done, which is necessary and seemly.

The other kind of order is artificiall, and in forme contrarie to this, as when the worthiest or weightiest word is set last: for the cause of amplifying, which the Rhetoricians cal Incrementum,: the description whereof shalbe set downe among the figures of Amplication. (Peacham)

1. Sun and moon (Silva Rhetoricae)

1. Life and death (Silva Rhetoricae)

1. First he planned the murder; then he carried it out. (Silva Rhetoricae)