Apophasis

Examples Help! What is the definition of Apophasis?

How do you define Apophasis? What is an Apophasis? The word derives from the from the Greek word 'apophanai' meaning  "to say no". The definition of Apophasis is as follows:

 

English Grammar & Terminology Definition of Apophasis - a poetic device
Definition: Mentioning something by saying it will not be mentioned!
Denying any intention to talk or write about something, but making the denial in such a way that the subject is actually discussed.

Example: A recipient of an award starts his acceptance speech by saying that "I won't list the people who have helped me like the director, the producer, the editor, the cameraman, my mother and father, instead, I just want to talk about my fellow actors..."

Definition of Apophasis - a poetic device

Examples of Apophasis in Poems & Poetry
Poems with Apophasis examples can be found by the most famous poets including William Shakespeare

  • Mark Antony's funeral speech in Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
    "I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts.
    I am no orator, as Brutus is;
    But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man . . .
    For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,
    Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech
    To stir men's blood; I only speak right on."

Examples Help - Figures of Speech - Apophasis

In Figurative Language we use words in such a way that they differ somewhat from ordinary every-day speech and convey meanings in a more vivid and impressive manner. Figures, like Apophasis make speech more effective, they beautify and emphasize it in Rhetoric which is the art of speaking and writing effectively. Figures of speech such as Apophasis use word association to convey emotion and mood often in a non-literal sense.

Examples Help! Using Apophasis

Figures of speech such as Apophasis adds adornment, beautifies, colors, elegant variation, embellishment, embroidery, emphasis, exaggeration, exclamation, flourish, floweriness, irony, lushness and luxuriance to the English language. This page providing facts and info about Figures of Speech will help with the understanding of this subject.

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  • Poem, Poems & Poetry - Apophasis

  • Word association to convey emotion and mood.

  • Definition, sample and example - poetic device

  • Figure of Speech in English Grammar

  • Definitions, info, samples and examples of different English Figurative Language

  • Apophasis - figure, image, trope

  • Word association to convey emotion and mood.

  • Definition, info, sample and example - figure, image, trope - Poetic device

  • Poem, Poems & Poetry - poetic device

  • Examples Help!

Apophasis

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