prolepsis

American  

[proh-lep-sis] / proʊˈlɛp sɪs /

noun

prolepses plural

1. Rhetoric. the anticipation of possible objections in order to answer them in advance.

2. the assigning of a person, event, etc., to a period earlier than the actual one; the representation of something in the future as if it already existed or had occurred; prochronism.

3. the use of a descriptive word in anticipation of its becoming applicable.

4. a fundamental conception or assumption in Epicureanism or Stoicism arising spontaneously in the mind without conscious reflection; thought provoked by sense perception.

5. Pathology. the return of an attack of a periodic disease or of a paroxysm before the expected time or at progressively shorter intervals.

---

prolepsis British  

/ prəʊˈlɛpsɪs /

noun

1. a rhetorical device by which objections are anticipated and answered in advance

2. use of a word after a verb in anticipation of its becoming applicable through the action of the verb, as flat in hammer it flat

---

Other Word Forms

• proleptic
  adjective
• proleptical
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of prolepsis

First recorded in 1570–80; from Late Latin prolēpsis, from Greek prólēpsis “anticipation, preconception,” equivalent to prolēp-, future stem of prolambánein “to anticipate” ( pro- “for, before” + lambánein “to take”) + -sis noun suffix ( see -sis

Example Sentences

Through its use of foreshadowing and prolepsis, “The Arabian Nights” consistently fosters a fatalistic sense that no one can escape his or her destiny.

From Washington Post • Jun. 11, 2019

In fact, Fo makes explicit reference to the theater throughout, and uses borrowed techniques — including a visual “proscenium,” prolepsis, asides, interludes, shifting scenes and the dismantling of the fourth wall.

From Washington Post • Aug. 10, 2015

In formal rhetoric, prolepsis means the anticipation of possible objections to an argument for the sake of answering them.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 13, 2015

But there is a curious prolepsis of the spermatozoa-theory.

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 02 by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir

Anachronism -- N. anachronism, metachronism, parachronism, prochronism; prolepsis, misdate; anticipation, antichronism. disregard of time, neglect of time, oblivion of time. intempestivity &c.

From Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Roget, Peter Mark