parenthetical

Also par·en·thet·ic

[par-uhn-thet-i-kuhl]

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, noting, or of the nature of a parenthesis.

   several unnecessary parenthetic remarks.

2. characterized by the use of parentheses.

Other Word Forms

• parentheticality noun
• parentheticalness noun
• parenthetically adverb
• interparenthetic adjective
• interparenthetical adjective
• unparenthetic adjective
• unparenthetical adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of parenthetical¹

First recorded in 1620–30; from Greek parénthet(os) “interpolated” (verbid of parentithénai, equivalent to par- par- + en- en- ² + the-, variant stem of tithénai “to put” + -tos verbal adjective suffix) + -ic + -al ¹