paraprosdokian

[ par-uh-prohz-doh-kee-uhn ]

noun

1. a sentence or expression in which the second part provides an unexpected resolution or contrast to the first part, as in I'd like to see you again, but I've lost my glasses. Compare zeugma ( def ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of paraprosdokian¹

First recorded in 1885–90; from Greek prepositional phrase parà prosdokían “contrary to expectation”; from pará “beside, beyond” + prosdokía “expectation” (noun derivative of prosdokân, prosdokeîn “to expect,” from prós “toward, forward” + dokeîn “to seem, seem good, be of the opinion”); dogma ( def ), paradox ( def )