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.”
Wonky (adj) won-kee Not straight or balanced, off kilter. First recorded in 1915–20; perhaps variant of dialectal wanky, equivalent to wank(le) ( Middle English wankel, Old English wancol. (more…)
