Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site tekecs.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!tektronix!tekecs!paulson@hplabsc.UUCP From: paulson@hplabsc.UUCP@tekecs.UUCP (paulson@hplabsc.UUCP) Newsgroups: net.nlang Subject: Re: Unmentioned quiz Message-ID: <161@tekecs.UUCP> Date: Mon, 3-Oct-83 11:39:59 EDT Article-I.D.: tekecs.161 Posted: Mon Oct 3 11:39:59 1983 Date-Received: Tue, 4-Oct-83 07:50:31 EDT Sender: news@tekecs.UUCP Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR Lines: 18 I checked out "apophasis", "paraleipsis" and "preterition" in four dictionaries: Websters New International Dictionary (Webster's First), Webster's Second New International Dictionary (Webster's Second), the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), and the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. The American Heritage Dictionary was worthless, as it didn't include any of the words (what's the use of a dictionary that only has words you already know? how dull). The other three agreed that "paraleipsis" (also spelled "paralipsis" and "paralepsis") are synonyms, both meaning the rhetorical device of mentioning something while pretending not to mention it (e.g. "not to mention his vile debaucheries and flagrant misuse of taxpayer's money"). The OED and Webster's Second defined "apophasis" as synonymous with the other two; Webster's First suggests that while "paralipsis" and "preterition" are pretending not to mention a NEGATIVE point, "apophasis" can also refer to pretending not to mention a POSITIVE point (e.g. "I'll pass over Ms. Samaritan's great services to our community"). Hence, while paralipsis is always apophasis, apophasis may not be paralipsis. New quiz: Name five other rhetorical devices.