Prolepsis Definition
prō-lĕpsĭs
prolepses
noun
The anachronistic representation of something as existing before its proper or historical time, as in the precolonial United States.
American Heritage
An anticipating.
Webster's New World
The assignment of something, such as an event or name, to a time that precedes it, as in If you tell the cops, you're a dead man.
American Heritage
The use of a descriptive word in anticipation of the act or circumstances that would make it applicable, as dry in They drained the lake dry.
American Heritage
The anticipation and answering of an objection or argument before one's opponent has put it forward.
American Heritage
Other Word Forms of Prolepsis
Noun
Singular:
prolepsis
Plural:
prolepsesOrigin of Prolepsis
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Late Latin prolēpsis from Greek from prolambanein to anticipate pro- before pro–2 lambanein lēp- to take
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From Latin prolepsis, from Ancient Greek πρόληψις (prolepsis, “preconception, anticipation"), from προλαμβάνω (prolambano, “take beforehand, anticipate")
From Wiktionary
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