apophasis

American  

[uh-pof-uh-sis] / əˈpɒf ə sɪs /

noun

1. Rhetoric. denial of one's intention to speak of a subject that is at the same time named or insinuated, as “I shall not mention Caesar's avarice, nor his cunning, nor his morality.”

2. Theology. knowledge, understanding, or description of God through negative statements about qualities and characteristics that God does not possess, as "God is not confined by space or time."

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apophasis British  

/ əˈpɒfəsɪs /

noun

1. rhetoric the device of mentioning a subject by stating that it will not be mentioned

   I shall not discuss his cowardice or his treachery

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Other Word Forms

• apophatic adjective

Etymology

Origin of apophasis

1650–60; < Late Latin < Greek: a denial, equivalent to apópha ( nai ) to say no, deny ( apo- apo- + phánai to say) + -sis -sis

Example Sentences

It’s what’s called praeteritio, apophasis, or paralipsis—the act of saying something by saying you’re not going to say it. 

From Slate • Feb. 18, 2016