prolepsis

[ proh-lep-sis ]

noun

, plural pro·lep·ses [proh-, lep, -seez].

1. Rhetoric. the anticipation of possible objections in order to answer them in advance.
2. the assigning of a person, event, etc., to a period earlier than the actual one; the representation of something in the future as if it already existed or had occurred; prochronism.
3. the use of a descriptive word in anticipation of its becoming applicable.
4. a fundamental conception or assumption in Epicureanism or Stoicism arising spontaneously in the mind without conscious reflection; thought provoked by sense perception.
5. Pathology. the return of an attack of a periodic disease or of a paroxysm before the expected time or at progressively shorter intervals.

prolepsis

/ prəʊˈlɛpsɪs /

noun

1. a rhetorical device by which objections are anticipated and answered in advance
2. use of a word after a verb in anticipation of its becoming applicable through the action of the verb, as flat in hammer it flat

Derived Forms

• proˈleptic, adjective

Other Words From

• pro·lep·tic [proh-, lep, -tik], pro·lep·ti·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prolepsis¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from Late Latin prolēpsis, from Greek prólēpsis “anticipation, preconception,” equivalent to prolēp-, future stem of prolambánein “to anticipate” ( pro- “for, before” + lambánein “to take”) + -sis noun suffix ( -sis

Word History and Origins

Origin of prolepsis¹

C16: via Late Latin from Greek: anticipation, from prolambanein to anticipate, from pro- ² + lambanein to take

Example Sentences

An instance of prolepsis, or "anticipation" in the use of a word.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a prolepsis of the soul, reaching upward towards its source and goal.

From Project Gutenberg