aposiopesis

American  

[ap-uh-sahy-uh-pee-sis] / ˌæp əˌsaɪ əˈpi sɪs /

noun

Rhetoric.

aposiopeses plural

1. a sudden breaking off in the midst of a sentence, as if from inability or unwillingness to proceed.

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aposiopesis British  

/ ˌæpəʊˌsaɪəˈpiːsɪs, ˌæpəʊˌsaɪəˈpɛtɪk /

noun

1. rhetoric the device of suddenly breaking off in the middle of a sentence as if unwilling to continue

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• aposiopetic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• aposiopeses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of aposiopesis

1570–80; < Late Latin < Greek: literally, a full silence, equivalent to aposiōpē- (verbid stem of aposiōpáein to be fully silent; apo- apo- + siōpáein to be silent) + -sis -sis

Example Sentences

And the novel's final line, from inside Valentine's head, is a typical and brilliant Fordian aposiopesis: "She was setting out on …" It could end there.

From The Guardian • Aug. 24, 2012

"Oh yes, and the sheep, too, but—" A pregnant aposiopesis.

From In a Green Shade A Country Commentary by Hewlett, Maurice Henry

Mrs. Baxter left it at an aposiopesis, a form of speech she was fond of.

From The Necromancers by Benson, Robert Hugh

"If you will have it," said Alf, with fine aposiopesis.

From Not George Washington — an Autobiographical Novel by Wodehouse, P. G. (Pelham Grenville)

Who ever composed with greater spirit and elegance because he could define an oxymoron or an aposiopesis?

From Life and Letters of Lord Macaulay Volume 1 by Trevelyan, George Otto, Sir