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prolepsis

Syllabification: (pro·lep·sis)
Pronunciation: /prōˈlepsəs/

Definition of prolepsis

noun (plural prolepses /-ˌsēz/)

  • 1 Rhetoric the anticipation and answering of possible objections in rhetorical speech.
  • 2the representation of a thing as existing before it actually does or did so, as in he was a dead man when he entered.

Derivatives

proleptic

Pronunciation: /-ˈleptik/

adjective

proleptically

Pronunciation: /-ˈleptik(ə)lē/

adverb

Origin:

late Middle English (as a term in rhetoric): via late Latin from Greek prolēpsis, from prolambanein 'anticipate', from pro 'before' + lambanein 'take'

prolepsis in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of prolepsis in the British & World English dictionary

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