Rhet. [L., a. Gr. ἀπόφασις denial, f. ἀπο-φάναι to ‘speak off,’ deny.]
1657. J. Smith, Myst. Rhet., 104. Apophasis … a kind of an Irony, whereby we deny that we say or doe that which we especially say or doe.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Apophasis … whereby we really say or advise a thing, under a feigned shew of passing over, or dissuading it. [In mod. Dicts.]
