aposiopesis
[ ap-uh-sahy-uh-pee-sis ]
/ ˌæp əˌsaɪ əˈpi sɪs /
noun, plural ap·o·si·o·pe·ses [ap-uh-sahy-uh-pee-seez] /ˌæp əˌsaɪ əˈpi siz/. Rhetoric.
a sudden breaking off in the midst of a sentence, as if from inability or unwillingness to proceed.
Origin of aposiopesis
OTHER WORDS FROM aposiopesis
ap·o·si·o·pet·ic [ap-uh-sahy-uh-pet-ik] /ˌæp əˌsaɪ əˈpɛt ɪk/, adjectiveWords nearby aposiopesis
aporepressor,
aporia,
aport,
aposematic,
aposematic coloration,
aposiopesis,
apospory,
apostasy,
apostate,
apostatize,
apostaxis
Example sentences from the Web for aposiopesis
British Dictionary definitions for aposiopesis
aposiopesis
/ (ˌæpəʊˌsaɪəˈpiːsɪs) /
noun plural -ses (-siːz)
rhetoric
the device of suddenly breaking off in the middle of a sentence as if unwilling to continue
Derived forms of aposiopesis
aposiopetic (ˌæpəʊˌsaɪəˈpɛtɪk), adjectiveWord Origin for aposiopesis
C16: via Late Latin from Greek, from
aposiōpaein to be totally silent, from
siōpaein to be silent