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