Word Of The Week #117
Word Of The Week -- aposiopesis
Definition: ap·o·si·o·pe·sis (āp'&-sī'&-pē'sĭs)
n.A sudden breaking off of a thought in the middle of a sentence, as though the speaker were unwilling or unable to continue.
Etymology: [Late Latin: aposiōpēsis, from Greek, from aposiōpān, to become silent: apo-, intensive pref.; see apo- + siōpān, to be silent (from siōpē, silence).]
Obscurity: 95% (Come again?)
Usefulness: 5% (Anyone using this word is trying to confuse you, impress you, or both.)
Examples:
(def. 1) "If you think I'm going to let you end another conversation with an aposiopesis, you're...hey, get back here!"
Not sure where I stumbled across this one. Kind of a long word for a simple concept!
--- Ajax.