epexegesis
Americannoun
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the addition of a word or words to explain a preceding word or sentence.
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the word or words so added.
noun
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the addition of a phrase, clause, or sentence to a text to provide further explanation
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the phrase, clause, or sentence added for this purpose
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of epexegesis
First recorded in 1615–25, epexegesis is from the Greek word epexḗgēsis explanation. See ep-, exegesis
Explanation
An epexegesis adds words to clarify the meaning of other words. In other words, it's the addition of details or extra info to make something clearer — just as this sentence is an epexegesis of the previous one. Think of an epexegesis as added information. It could be just a few words set off by commas, parentheses, or dashes within a sentence: e.g., "He had an aquiline nose — meaning it curved down like an eagle's beak." Or it could be a whole other sentence immediately following the first. The word comes from two Greek elements, epi- (meaning "in addition") and exegesis (meaning "explanation").
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.
The terms epexegesis and epexegetical are used by expositors in a special sense to denote something explanatory of the immediate context.
From Companion to the Bible by Barrows, E. P. (Elijah Porter)
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.
