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APOSIOPESIS
Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 8:24 pm
by Bailey
ap·o·si·o·pe·sis (p-s-pss)
n. pl. ap·o·si·o·pe·ses (-sz)
A sudden breaking off of a thought in the middle of a sentence, as though the speaker were unwilling or unable to continue.
[Late Latin aposipsis, from Greek, from aposipn, to become silent : apo-, intensive pref.; see apo- + sipn, to be silent (from sip, silence).]
apo·sio·petic (-ptk) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words AntonymsNoun 1. aposiopesis - breaking off in the middle of a sentence (as by writers of realistic conversations)
rhetorical device - a use of language that creates a literary effect (but often without regard for literal significance)
mark who-is-more-of-a-blatteroon-than-aposiopeic Bailey
Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:58 pm
by gailr
Also a shameless hint for an "applause opportunity" during a speech.
-gailr
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 3:33 am
by portokalos
The word is also related with the accomplice.
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 11:33 am
by Perry
"Did you ever stop to think, and then forget to start again?"
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 11:53 am
by Bailey
Perry, that was schtick from a famous comedian, I forget who. Gailr will tell us, though.
mark forgets-to-think Bailey
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 6:22 pm
by gailr
Perry will have to tell us; schtick is his schtick.
-gailr
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:41 pm
by Palewriter
How come we never get great words like "schtick" on WOTD?
-- PW the kibbitzer
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:41 pm
by Perry
I really don't have a clue. I just noticed this on a bumper sticker, and had a good laugh.
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:48 pm
by Palewriter
I really don't have a clue. I just noticed this on a bumper sticker, and had a good laugh.
Must have been a bumper schticker.
-- PW
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 11:15 pm
by gailr
Must have been a bumper schticker.
Political examples are for schticking it to
the man.
-gailr
Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:09 am
by portokalos
Apohab(v)nosis?
Αποχαύνωση;