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aposiopesis

Syllabification: (ap·o·si·o·pe·sis)

Definition of aposiopesis

noun (plural aposiopeses /-sēz/)

Rhetoric
  • the device of suddenly breaking off in speech.

Derivatives

aposiopetic

Pronunciation: /-ˈpetik/

adjective

Origin:

late 16th century: via Latin from Greek aposiōpēsis, from aposiōpan 'be silent'

aposiopesis in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of aposiopesis in the British & World English dictionary