[L., a. Gr. ἀποσιώπησις, n. of action f. ἀπο-σιωπά-ειν to keep silent.] A rhetorical artifice, in which the speaker comes to a sudden halt, as if unable or unwilling to proceed.
1578. Timme, Calvin on Gen., 146. A figure called Aposiopesis, after the which something not expressed is to be understood.
1618. Hist. P. Warbeck, in Harl. Misc. (1793), 63. His communication was still seasoned with savoury parenthesises and breakings off, or, if you will, aposiopesises.
1727. Pope, Art Sinking, 95. The Aposiopesis, an excellent figure for the ignorant, as ‘what shall I say?’ when one has nothing to say, or ‘I can no more,’ when one really can no more.
1853. De Quincey, Wks., XIV. v. 150. At this aposiopesis I looked inquiringly at the speaker.
