epexegesis

American

[ep-ek-si-jee-sis] / ɛpˌɛk sɪˈdʒi sɪs /

noun

Rhetoric.

plural

epexegeses

the addition of a word or words to explain a preceding word or sentence.
the word or words so added.

epexegesis British

/ ɛˌpɛksɪˈdʒɛtɪk, ɛˌpɛksɪˈdʒiːsɪs /

noun

the addition of a phrase, clause, or sentence to a text to provide further explanation
the phrase, clause, or sentence added for this purpose

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

epexegetic adjective
epexegetically adverb

Etymology

Origin of epexegesis

First recorded in 1615–25, epexegesis is from the Greek word epexḗgēsis explanation. See ep-, exegesis

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The terms epexegesis and epexegetical are used by expositors in a special sense to denote something explanatory of the immediate context.

From Companion to the Bible by Barrows, E. P. (Elijah Porter)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023