aposiopesis
Americannoun
-
aposiopeses
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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
Vocabulary lists containing aposiopesis
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
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
Yes, but—Richard used the device of aposiopesis; Daniel Dabbs took it for a humorous effect and began a roar, which was summarily interdicted.
From Demos by George Gissing
He filled up his aposiopesis with an uncouth gesture, signifying 'I may as well get back to Australia.'
From Yet Again by Sir Max Beerbohm
"So..." said Mr. Carmyle, becoming articulate, and allowed an impressive aposiopesis to take the place of the rest of the speech.
From The Adventures of Sally by P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse
"Oh yes, and the sheep, too, but—" A pregnant aposiopesis.
From In a Green Shade A Country Commentary by Maurice Henry Hewlett
The whole plot of the Ciris is in fact unravelled by means of a series of allusions and suggestions, exclamations and soliloquies, parentheses and aposiopeses, interrogations and apostrophes.
From Vergil A Biography by Tenney Frank
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
