prolepsis

1 of 2

noun

pro·​lep·​sis prō-ˈlep-səs 

plural prolepses prō-ˈlep-ˌsēz 

: anticipation: such as

a

: the representation or assumption of a future act or development as if presently existing or accomplished

b

: the application of an adjective to a noun in anticipation of the result of the action of the verb (as in "while yon slow oxen turn the furrowed plain")

proleptic

prō-ˈlep-tik 

adjective

proleptically

prō-ˈlep-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

proleptic

2 of 2

adjective

pro·​lep·​tic (ˈ)prō¦leptik chiefly British -lēp- 

variants or less commonly proleptical

-tə̇kəl

: of, relating to, or exemplifying prolepsis

a proleptic justification of the line he was to take

—R. F. Harrod

a proleptic interpretation by the prophet of the future events

—Georges Florovsky

and he will move breathing through us wing-linked proleptic of what Eden

—Denis Devlin

proleptically

-tə̇k(ə)lē 

adverb

Examples of prolepsis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Usually prolepsis is used to make an ending more tidy by resolving plotlines and squaring futures neatly away. —Christine Smallwood, Harper's magazine, 16 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Greek prolēpsis, from prolambanein to take beforehand, from pro- before + lambanein to take — more at latch

Adjective

proleptic from Greek prolēptikos, from (assumed) prolēptos (verbal of prolambanein to anticipate) + -ikos -ic; proleptical from Greek prolēptikos + English -al

First Known Use

Noun

1578, in the meaning defined above