apophasis
Sign in to saveApophasis (; , ) is a rhetorical device wherein the speaker or writer brings up a subject by either denying it, or denying that it should be brought up. Accordingly, it can be seen as a rhetorical relative of irony. A classic example of apophasis is "I'm not going to say that I told you so".
~6 min read
Article
6 sectionsContents
- Usage
- Examples
- See also
- References
- Bibliography
- External links
Apophasis (; , ) is a rhetorical device wherein the speaker or writer brings up a subject by either denying it, or denying that it should be brought up. Accordingly, it can be seen as a rhetorical relative of irony. A classic example of apophasis is "I'm not going to say that I told you so".
The device is also called paralipsis () – also spelled paraleipsis or paralepsis – or occupatio or occultatio, and known also as praeteritio, preterition, or parasiopesis (παρασιώπησις).