PARALIPSIS Definition & Meaning

paralipsis

[ par-uh-lip-sis ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Rhetoric.

plural paralipses

the suggestion, by deliberately concise treatment of a topic, that much of significance is being omitted, as in “not to mention other faults.”

paralipsis

/ ˌpærəˈlɪpsɪs; ˌpærəˈlaɪpsɪs /

noun

a rhetorical device in which an idea is emphasized by the pretence that it is too obvious to discuss, as in there are many drawbacks to your plan, not to mention the cost

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of paralipsis¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Late Latin �貹��ī��, from Greek �貹��á��𾱱�� “an omitting,” equivalent to �貹��í��(�𾱲�) “to leave on one side” (equivalent to para- + ��í��𾱲� “to leave”) + -sis; para- ¹, -sis

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of paralipsis¹

C16: via Late Latin from Greek: neglect, from paraleipein to leave aside, from para- ¹+ leipein to leave

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

But to remind Trump, by speaking on behalf of the majority of the country, that everyone is on to him, in a reversal of Trump’s favorite “everyone is saying” paralipsis device:

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Trump also used the trope of paralipsis to pave his path to power.

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The third unifying strategy is a slippery one called paralipsis, which you translate colloquially as "I'm not saying/I'm just saying."

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His retweets functioned as a paralipsis: It allowed him to say and not say and provided him with the out of plausible deniability.

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Trump has stopped using the “wink” of paralipsis since he became president.

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