analepsis
|an-a-lep-sis|
C2
/ˌænəˈlɛpsɪs/
flashback in narrative
Etymology
Etymology Information
'analepsis' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'analepsis,' where 'ana-' meant 'back' or 'again' and 'lambanein' meant 'to take.'
Historical Evolution
'analepsis' was borrowed directly from Greek into English in the 19th century, retaining its original form and meaning.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'a recovery or taking up again,' but in literary contexts, it evolved to mean 'a flashback or narrative return to an earlier event.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a literary device in which a past event is narrated at a point later than its chronological place in a story; a flashback.
The novel uses analepsis to reveal the protagonist's childhood trauma.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/07/28 01:06