Apophasis

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Apophasis \A*poph"a*sis\ ([.a]*p[o^]f"[.a]*s[i^]s), n. [Gr.
     'apo`fasis denial, fr. 'apofa`nai to speak out, to deny.]
     (Rhet.)
     A figure by which a speaker formally declines to take notice
     of a favorable point, but in such a manner as to produce the
     effect desired. [For example, see Mark Antony's oration.


     --Shak., Julius C[ae]sar, iii. 2.]
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  apophasis
       n : mentioning something by saying it will not be mentioned