What is "paralipsis"

Paraleipsis \Par`a*leip"sis\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to leave on one side, to omit; para` beside + ? to leave.] (Rhet.) A pretended or apparent omission; a figure by which a speaker artfully pretends to pass by what he really mentions; as, for example, if an orator should say, ``I do not speak of my adversary's scandalous venality and rapacity, his brutal conduct, his treachery and malice.'' [Written also paralepsis, paralepsy, paralipsis.]

1580s, from Greek paraleipsis "passing by omission," from paraleipein "to leave on one side, pass over, leave untold," from para- "beside" (see para- (1)) + leipein "to leave" (see relinquish).

n. (context rhetoric linguistics English) (alternative spelling of paraleipsis English)

n. suggesting by deliberately concise treatment that much of significance is omitted [syn: paralepsis, paraleipsis, preterition]