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aposiopesis
[ ap-uh-sahy-uh-pee-sis ]
/ ˌæp əˌsaɪ əˈpi sɪs /
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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.
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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
apopyle, aporia, aport, aposematic, aposematic coloration, aposiopesis, apospory, apostasy, apostate, apostatize, a posteriori
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use aposiopesis in a sentence
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
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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