prolepsis

[ proh-lep-sis ]
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noun,plural pro·lep·ses [proh-lep-seez]. /proʊˈlɛp siz/.
  1. Rhetoric. the anticipation of possible objections in order to answer them in advance.

  2. the assigning of a person, event, etc., to a period earlier than the actual one; the representation of something in the future as if it already existed or had occurred; prochronism.

  1. the use of a descriptive word in anticipation of its becoming applicable.

  2. a fundamental conception or assumption in Epicureanism or Stoicism arising spontaneously in the mind without conscious reflection; thought provoked by sense perception.

  3. Pathology. the return of an attack of a periodic disease or of a paroxysm before the expected time or at progressively shorter intervals.

Origin of prolepsis

1
First recorded in 1570–80; from Late Latin prolēpsis, from Greek prólēpsis “anticipation, preconception,” equivalent to prolēp-, future stem of prolambánein “to anticipate” (pro- “for, before” + lambánein “to take”) + -sis noun suffix (see -sis

Other words from prolepsis

  • pro·lep·tic [proh-lep-tik], /proʊˈlɛp tɪk/, pro·lep·ti·cal, adjective

Words Nearby prolepsis

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British Dictionary definitions for prolepsis

prolepsis

/ (prəʊˈlɛpsɪs) /


nounplural -ses (-siːz)
  1. a rhetorical device by which objections are anticipated and answered in advance

  2. use of a word after a verb in anticipation of its becoming applicable through the action of the verb, as flat in hammer it flat

Origin of prolepsis

1
C16: via Late Latin from Greek: anticipation, from prolambanein to anticipate, from pro- ² + lambanein to take

Derived forms of prolepsis

  • proleptic, adjective

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