What does "prolepsis" mean?
The assignment of something to a period of time that precedes it.
Prolepsis
/pɹoʊˈlɛpsɪs/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The assignment of something to a period of time that precedes it.
- Grammar: prolepsis is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: foreshadowing, anachronism, anticipation, anticipatory narration.
- Useful contrasts: retrospection, syllepsis.
- Usage evidence: Prolepsis makes objections; then replies; And wisely thus anticipates surprise.
How to use "prolepsis"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "prolepsis" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "prolepsis" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "prolepsis" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "prolepsis" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "prolepsis" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "foreshadowing" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "prolepsis", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The assignment of something to a period of time that precedes it. countable, rhetoric, uncountable
- 2 anticipating and answering objections in advance wordnet
- 3 The anticipation of an objection to an argument. countable, rhetoric, uncountable
"Prolepsis makes objections; then replies; And wisely thus anticipates surprise."
- 4 A construction that consists of placing an element in a syntactic unit before that to which it would logically correspond. countable, rhetoric, uncountable
- 5 A so-called "preconception", i.e., a pre-theoretical notion which can lead to true knowledge of the world. countable, uncountable
"Point (1) seems to imply that one may have a false judgement because of a mismatch between different criteria for truth. For example, my sensation is paired with a prolepsis of a horse, therefore I make an assertion that ‘there is a horse’, which upon further inspection may turn out to be a cow."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 Growth in which lateral branches develop from a lateral meristem, after the formation of a bud or following a period of dormancy, when the lateral meristem is split from a terminal meristem. countable, uncountable
- 7 The practice of placing information about the ending of a story near the beginning, as a literary device. countable, uncountable
"[…] [Edmund] Plovvden being of the Romiſh perſvvaſion, ſome Setters trapanned him (pardon the prolepſis) to hear Maſſe: But aftervvards Plovvden underſtanding, that the pretender to Officiate vvas no Prieſt, but a meer Lay-man (on deſigne to make a diſcovering) Oh! The caſe is altered quoth Plovvden: No Priest, no Maſſe."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Prolepsis makes objections; then replies; And wisely thus anticipates surprise."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "prolepsis"?
Common synonyms include: foreshadowing, anachronism, anticipation, anticipatory narration, breakthrough, cataphora.
How do you use "prolepsis" in a sentence?
Prolepsis makes objections; then replies; And wisely thus anticipates surprise.
How do you pronounce "prolepsis"?
Pronounced /pɹoʊˈlɛpsɪs/.
Etymology
From Latin prolepsis, from Ancient Greek πρόληψις (prólēpsis, “preconception, anticipation”), from προλαμβάνω (prolambánō, “take beforehand, anticipate”).