aposiopesis

wordjournal:

noun • /ˌæpəsaɪəˈpi:sɪs/ • an abrupt breaking-off in speech (rhetoric device)

From Latin aposiopesis, from Ancient Greek ἀποσιώπησις (aposiopesis), from αποσιωπαν (aposiopan, “be silent”).

Found via wordjournal. Posted Friday, November 6th, at 9:05 AM (∞).

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