Word Study
prolepsis
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun prolepsis has 1 sense
CIDE DICTIONARY
prolepsis, n. [L., fr. Gr. , from to take beforehand; before + to take.].
- A figure by which objections are anticipated or prevented. [1913 Webster]
- An error in chronology, consisting in an event being dated before the actual time. [1913 Webster]
- The application of an adjective to a noun in anticipation, or to denote the result, of the action of the verb; as, to strike one dumb. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
prolepsis, n. (pl. prolepses)
1 the anticipation and answering of possible objections in rhetorical speech.
2 anticipation.
3 the representation of a thing as existing before it actually does or did so, as in he was a dead man when he entered.
4 Gram. the anticipatory use of adjectives, as in paint the town red.
1 the anticipation and answering of possible objections in rhetorical speech.
2 anticipation.
3 the representation of a thing as existing before it actually does or did so, as in he was a dead man when he entered.
4 Gram. the anticipatory use of adjectives, as in paint the town red.
Derivative
proleptic adj.
Etymology
LL f. Gk prolepsis f. prolambano anticipate (as PRO-(2), lambano take)
ROGET THESAURUS
prolepsis
Precursor
N precursor, antecedent, precedent, predecessor, forerunner, vancourier, avant-coureur, pioneer, prodrome, prodromos, prodromus, outrider, leader, bellwether, herald, harbinger, foreboding, dawn, avant-courier, avant-garde, bellmare, forelooper, foreloper, stalking-horse, voorlooper, voortrekker, prelude, preamble, preface, prologue, foreword, avant-propos, protasis, proemium, prolusion, proem, prolepsis, prolegomena, prefix, introduction, heading, frontispiece, groundwork, preparation, overture, exordium, symphony, premises, prefigurement, omen, precursory, prelusive, prelusory, preludious, proemial, introductory, prefatory, prodromous, inaugural, preliminary, precedent, a precedent embalms a principle.Anachronism
N anachronism, metachronism, parachronism, prochronism, prolepsis, misdate, anticipation, antichronism, disregard of time, neglect of time, oblivion of time, intempestivity, misdated, undated, overdue, past due, out of date.
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