Aposiopesis

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌæpəsaɪəˈpiːsɪs/

Definitions

1. A sudden breaking off in the middle of a sentence, often for rhetorical effect or to suggest strong emotion that makes continued speech impossible
2. A deliberate halt in speech where the speaker stops abruptly mid-sentence, typically implying overwhelming emotion or leaving an idea purposefully incomplete
3. The rhetorical device of intentionally ceasing to speak before finishing a thought, conveying intensity of feeling through the silence that follows

Etymology: The Greek verb "siōpaō" meant "to be silent", and attaching "apo-" ("off, away") gave "aposiōpaō", to fall silent partway through. The noun "aposiōpēsis" therefore names the act of stopping mid-speech, and the Romans borrowed it as "aposiopesis" when they adopted Greek rhetorical terminology. English took the word directly from Latin, so it has been a technical term of the rhetorician's craft from the start. The figure is famous for its dashes. A speaker who says "If he ever comes near my daughter again, I'll..." and leaves the threat hanging is using the device, letting the unspoken finish the sentence more forcefully than words could. The Greek origin is apt: the grammar is the silence itself, and the sense of being cut off comes from the prefix "apo-", which marks a separation.