Paraleipsis

3 definitions found

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

  Paraleipsis \Par`a*leip"sis\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to leave
     on one side, to omit; para` beside + ? to leave.] (Rhet.)
     A pretended or apparent omission; a figure by which a speaker
     artfully pretends to pass by what he really mentions; as, for
     example, if an orator should say, "I do not speak of my
     adversary's scandalous venality and rapacity, his brutal


     conduct, his treachery and malice." [Written also
     {paralepsis}, {paralepsy}, {paralipsis}.]
     [1913 Webster]

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

  Preterition \Pre`ter*i"tion\ (?; 277), n. [L. praeteritio: cf.
     F. pr['e]t['e]rition.]
     1. The act of passing, or going past; the state of being
        past. --Bp. Hall.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Rhet.) A figure by which, in pretending to pass over
        anything, a summary mention of it is made; as, "I will not
        say, he is valiant, he is learned, he is just." Called
        also {paraleipsis}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Law) The omission by a testator of some one of his heirs
        who is entitled to a portion. --Bouvier.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  paraleipsis
       n : suggesting by deliberately concise treatment that much of
           significance is omitted [syn: {paralepsis}, {paralipsis},
            {preterition}]
       [also: {paraleipses} (pl)]