aposiopesis

From Latin aposiopesis, from Ancient Greek ἀποσιώπησις (aposiṓpēsis), from ἀποσιωπάω (aposiōpáō, “be silent”), from ἀπό (apó, “off, from”) + σιωπάω (siōpáō, “to be silent”).

• IPA^(key): /ˌæpəsaɪəˈpiːsɪs/
• Hyphenation: apo‧si‧o‧pe‧sis

aposiopesis (countable and uncountable, plural aposiopeses)

1. (rhetoric) An abrupt breaking-off in speech, often indicated in print using an ellipsis (…) or an em dash (—).
   • 1759, Laurence Sterne, The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, [York: Printed by Ann Ward], OCLC 877209274; republished volume I, Basil [Basel]: Printed for J. L. Legrand, 1792, OCLC 165700981, page 123:

     “My ſiſter, mayhap,” quoth my uncle Toby, “does not chuſe to let a man come so near her ****.” Make this daſh,—’tis an Apoſiopeſis.—Take the daſh away, and write Backſide,—’tis Bawdy.

   • 1911, Max Beerbohm, Zuleika Dobson:

     “If you are not—” The aposiopesis was icy.

   • 1938, Samuel Beckett, Murphy, London: George Routledge & Sons, OCLC 939632162; republished New York, N.Y.: Grove Press, 1957, OCLC 855435111, page 164:

     “Have fire in this garret before night or—” / He stopped because he could not go on. It was an aposiopesis of the purest kind.

   • 1982, John Fowles, Mantissa, London: Jonathan Cape, →ISBN:

     This somewhat abrupt ending (or aposiopesis) is caused by a previous movement from the figure on the bed.

• brachylogy

• adynaton
• anapodoton
• ellipsis
• or else

• Silva Rhetoricae

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• aposiopesis on Wikipedia.Wikipedia