🗣️ Answering objections early ⏩ Future shown early

prolepsis

9.9

Describing a future event as if it has already happened

noun
/prəˈlɛpsɪs/

Literature

: prolepsis

The novel's opening chapter uses prolepsis to reveal the fate of its main character.

Examples

In the film, a clever use of prolepsis lets the audience know what will happen later.
Writers often employ prolepsis to build suspense and engage readers.
The author used prolepsis to enhance the narrative.
In his novel, the writer employs prolepsis effectively.
The novel's opening chapter uses prolepsis to reveal the fate of its main character.
Writers often employ prolepsis to build suspense and engage readers.
In the film, a clever use of prolepsis lets the audience know what will happen later.

Synonyms

foreshadowing

vsprolepsis

Literature

8 6.7

A hint early in a story that shows what will happen later

describes future events as if they already occurred rather than hinting at them

flash-forward

vsprolepsis

Literature

1 7.5

A scene in a book or film that jumps ahead to show events in the future

describes future events as if they already occurred rather than interrupting sequence

flashforward

vsprolepsis

Literature

6.5

A short scene in a story that shows events that happen later

describes future events as if they already occurred rather than showing scenes ahead

prefiguration

vsprolepsis

9.9

An event or example that shows what will happen later

describes future events as if they already occurred instead of being early signs

prefigurement

vsprolepsis

Literature

9.1

A sign or early example that shows what will happen later

describes future events as if they already occurred rather than just suggesting them

Surface Forms

prolepsis singular

prolepses plural

Morphology

prolepsis = pro + lepsis

Although historically built from Greek elements (pro- + -lepsis), the components are not familiar productive English morphemes, so the sense cannot be transparently derived by typical learners.

Etymology

Prolepsis comes from Greek parts pro- meaning 'before' and -lepsis meaning 'taking'. So, in stories prolepsis is like 'taking' a future event into the present by describing it as if it already happened.