This week’s theme
There’s a word for it

This week’s words
agerasia
aposiopesis
marcescent
rupestral
proditomania

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(ap-uh-sy-uh-PEE-sis)

MEANING:

noun: An abrupt breaking off in the middle of a sentence, as if one is unable or unwilling to proceed.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin aposiopesis, from Greek aposiopesis, from apo- (intensive prefix) + siopan (to be silent), from siope (silence). Earliest documented use: 1578.

USAGE:

“Particular cases of aposiopesis can -- but do not lay it on too thick -- give the impression of being so overcome with emotion that you cannot speak.”
Sam Leith; Tricks to Engage an Audience Through Being Lost for Words; Financial Times (London, UK); Aug 4, 2015.

“And they are not ready to talk about next season.
But, aposiopesis.”
Woody Paige; Nuggets’ Future?; The Denver Post (Colorado); Apr 25, 2011.

See more usage examples of aposiopesis in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: