prolepsis

[ proh-lep-sis ]
/ proʊˈlɛp sɪs /

noun, plural pro·lep·ses [proh-lep-seez] /proʊˈlɛp siz/.

Rhetoric. the anticipation of possible objections in order to answer them in advance.
the assigning of a person, event, etc., to a period earlier than the actual one; the representation of something in the future as if it already existed or had occurred; prochronism.
the use of a descriptive word in anticipation of its becoming applicable.
a fundamental conception or assumption in Epicureanism or Stoicism arising spontaneously in the mind without conscious reflection; thought provoked by sense perception.
Pathology. the return of an attack of a periodic disease or of a paroxysm before the expected time or at progressively shorter intervals.

Origin of prolepsis

1570–80; < Late Latin prolēpsis < Greek prólēpsis anticipation, preconception, equivalent to prolēp- (verbid stem of prolambánein to anticipate ( pro- pro-2 + lambánein to take)) + -sis -sis

OTHER WORDS FROM prolepsis

pro·lep·tic [proh-lep-tik] /proʊˈlɛp tɪk/, pro·lep·ti·cal, adjective pro·lep·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Example sentences from the Web for prolepsis

British Dictionary definitions for prolepsis

prolepsis
/ (prəʊˈlɛpsɪs) /

noun plural -ses (-siːz)

a rhetorical device by which objections are anticipated and answered in advance
use of a word after a verb in anticipation of its becoming applicable through the action of the verb, as flat in hammer it flat

Derived forms of prolepsis

proleptic, adjective

Word Origin for prolepsis

C16: via Late Latin from Greek: anticipation, from prolambanein to anticipate, from pro- ² + lambanein to take

Medical definitions for prolepsis

prolepsis
[ prō-lĕpsĭs ]

n. pl. pro•lep•ses (-sēz)

The return of paroxysms of a recurrent disease at intervals that progressively become shorter.

Other words from prolepsis

pro•leptic (-lĕptĭk) adj.