parenthesis

[puh-ren-thuh-sis]

noun

plural

parentheses 

1. either or both of a pair of signs ( ) used in writing to mark off an interjected explanatory or qualifying remark, to indicate separate groupings of symbols in mathematics and symbolic logic, etc.

2. Usually parentheses. the material contained within these marks.

3. Grammar.,  a qualifying, explanatory, or appositive word, phrase, clause, or sentence that interrupts a syntactic construction without otherwise affecting it, having often a characteristic intonation and indicated in writing by commas, parentheses, or dashes, as in William Smith—you must know him—is coming tonight.

4. an interval.

parenthesis

/ ˌpærənˈθɛtɪk, pəˈrɛnθɪsɪs /

noun

1. a phrase, often explanatory or qualifying, inserted into a passage with which it is not grammatically connected, and marked off by brackets, dashes, etc

2. Also called: bracket. either of a pair of characters, (), used to enclose such a phrase or as a sign of aggregation in mathematical or logical expressions

3. an intervening occurrence; interlude; interval

4. inserted as a parenthesis

Other Word Forms

• parenthetic adjective
• parenthetically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of parenthesis¹

1560–70; < Late Latin < Greek parénthesis a putting in beside. See par-, en- ², thesis

Word History and Origins

Origin of parenthesis¹

C16: via Late Latin from Greek: something placed in besides, from parentithenai, from _para- ¹ + _en- ² + tithenai to put

Example Sentences

Unlike periods and commas, em dashes aren’t integral to sentence structure; they’re a considered choice that can, but by no means have to, take the place of commas, parentheses and semicolons.

Read more on Salon

It was an ad for a Holocaust tour that touted in parentheses “with lunch.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Whereas if it were ‘natural flavor’ and then in parenthesis a long list of bizarre chemical names, you might think twice about eating it.

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Finnie: You said that when you were younger growing up, that you saw a record and you saw the name in parentheses.

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Figures in parentheses reflect the number of times a book was checked out.

Read more on Seattle Times