paraprosdokian
English edit
Etymology edit
From Ancient Greek παρά (pará, “against”) + προσδοκία (prosdokía, “expectation”).
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
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paraprosdokian (plural paraprosdokians)
- Figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently used in a humorous situation.
- 1906, J. C. Stobart, The Johnson Epoch (Epochs of English literature), volume VII, London: E. Arnold, page 144:
- This style of comic poetry, a kind of parody of the Ballad, a series of quatrains generally leading up to a paraprosdokian or surprise in the fourth line, was initiated by [Oliver] Goldsmith in this merry tale.
Translations edit
figure of speech
See also edit
Further reading edit
- paraprosdokian on Wikipedia.Wikipedia