apophasis

POS

Noun

HYPHEN

a=poph=a=sis

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WORDNET DICTIONARY

Noun apophasis has 1 sense

apophasis(n = noun.communication) - mentioning something by saying it will not be mentioned;

is a kind of

rhetorical device

Derived form adjective apophatic₁

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CIDE DICTIONARY

apophasis, n. [Gr. 'apo`fasis denial, fr. 'apofa`nai to speak out, to deny.].

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 Cæsar, iii. 2.] [1913 Webster]