procatalepsis

/ˌpɹəʊkætəˈlɛpsɪs/

procatalepsis means 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.

procatalepsis is pronounced /ˌpɹəʊkætəˈlɛpsɪs/.

Why “procatalepsis” is a great word

A rhetorical device in which a speaker raises and immediately refutes an anticipated objection to their argument, thereby strengthening it. From Latin procatalepsis ("anticipating and answering an objection"), from Ancient Greek προκατάληψις (prokatálēpsis, "seizing in advance"), from πρό (pro, "before") and κατάληψις (katalēpsis, "seizing, grasping"). Unlike "prolepsis" (which broadly anticipates future events) or "concession" (which merely grants a point), procatalepsis is a strategic pre-emption: it is the defense attorney who names the damning evidence first, then explains why it proves nothing; the essayist who quotes her harshest critic in order to dismantle him; the lover who admits the relationship seems doomed, then argues precisely why it must endure—the art of disarming the unsaid, where silence itself is made to serve the argument.

Etymology

From Latin procatalepsis (“anticipating and answering an objection”), from Ancient Greek προκατάληψις (prokatálēpsis, “seizing in advance”).

noun

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.
Rebuttal of anticipated objections.
Left dislocation.

Words closest in meaning

By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.

anthypophora 87% match — A device in which the author poses an opposing argument, then immediately refutes it. vs procatalepsis →
hypobole 83% match — A rhetorical figure in which several things are mentioned that seem to make claims against the argument, or in favor of the opposing side, but are then refuted one by one. vs procatalepsis →
antanagoge 83% match — Answering the charge of an adversary by a countercharge. vs procatalepsis →
hypophora 83% match — a figure of speech in which the speaker poses a question and then answers the question. vs procatalepsis →
erotesis 83% match — A figure of speech whereby a question is asked in confident expectation of a negative answer. vs procatalepsis →
paralipsis 82% match — A figure of speech in which one pretends to ignore or omit something by actually mentioning it. vs procatalepsis →
proslepsis 82% match — The pretence of passing over a subject while at the same time describing it fully. vs procatalepsis →
epanalepsis 82% match — The repetition of the same word or clause after intervening matter. vs procatalepsis →