aposiopesis

Meaning

An abrupt breaking-off in speech, often indicated in print using an ellipsis (…) or an em dash (—).

Synonyms

automatism

averseness

loathness

unwillingness

Translations

réticence

Aposiopese

aposiopesi

reticencia

reticenza

aposiopèse

svogliatezza

reticentia

praecīsiō

onwil

reticéncia

hesitação

relutância

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˌæpəsaɪəˈpiːsɪs/

Etymology

From Latin aposiopesis, from Ancient Greek ἀποσιώπησις (aposiṓpēsis), from ἀποσιωπάω (aposiōpáō, “be silent”), from ἀπό (apó, “off, from”) + σιωπάω (siōpáō, “to be silent”).