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Word of the Day – Aposiopesis

By April 9, 2025Word of the Day

Aposiopesis (noun)

ap-uh-sai-oh-pee-sis

(rhetoric) a sudden breaking off in the midst of a sentence, as if from inability or unwillingness to proceed.

1570–80; < Late Latin < Greek: literally, a full silence, equivalent to aposiōpē- (verbid stem of aposiōpáein to be fully silent; apo- apo- + siōpáein to be silent) + -sis -sis

Example sentences

“And he turned away with a shrug to point his admirable aposiopesis.”

Word of the Day – Medley

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Medley (noun) med-lee a mixture, especially of heterogeneous elements; hodgepodge; jumble. First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English noun and adjective medle(e), medlei(e), maedlai(e) “battle, war, quarrel; mixture, balanced mixture,” from…

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