English Explanatory Dictionary

apophasis

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An allusion to something by denying that it will be mentioned.
  2. A process of arriving at knowledge by statements of denial; particularly, developing a concept of God through negative assertions about his nature.

Pronunciation

/əˈpɒf.ə.sɪs/ /əˈpɑf.ə.sɪs/

Word forms

apophasis apophases

Etymology

Via Late Latin apophasis from Ancient Greek ἀπόφασις (apóphasis, “denial, negation”) from ἀπο- (apo-, “away, from, off”) + φάσις (phásis, “statement, proposition”) from φημί (phēmí, “to speak”) from Proto-Hellenic *pʰā́mā from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂; whence Latin fārī, cognate to fame, fable.

Synonyms

paralipsis parasiopesis praeteritio preterition apophatic theology via negativa

Antonyms

cataphasis via affirmativa

Related words

apo- -phasis apophatic apophatically not to mention to say nothing of
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