procatalepsis

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Ancient Greek προ- (pro-, before) + κατάληψις (katálēpsis, act of seizing), via Latin procatalepsis (anticipating and answering an objection).

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ˌpɹəʊkætəˈlɛpsɪs/
  • (file)

Noun[edit]

Examples (rhetoric)

It is difficult to see how a pilot boat could be completely immune to capsizing or plunging, but pilot boat design criteria must meet the needs of the industry and pilotage authorities.

procatalepsis

  1. (rhetoric) A rhetorical exercise in which the speaker raises an objection to his own argument and then immediately answers it, in an attempt to strengthen the argument by dealing with possible counter-arguments.
  2. (rhetoric) Rebuttal of anticipated objections.
    Synonyms: prebuttal, preemption, prolepsis
    • 2022, China Miéville, chapter 3, in A Spectre, Haunting: On the Communist Manifesto, →OCLC:
      This long sequence skilfully deploys the rhetorical tropes of procatalepsis and concessio, pre-emption and concession: that is, they concede the accuracy of certain classic attacks on communism, but in ways that redound on their opponents.
  3. (grammar) Left dislocation.

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