parenthesis

Noun

Meaning

A word, phrase, or sentence, by way of comment or explanation, inserted in, or attached to, a sentence which would be grammatically complete without it. It is usually inclosed within curved lines (see def. 2 below), or dashes.

One of the curved lines () which inclose a parenthetic word or phrase.

Source: Webster's dictionary

Synonyms

aside digression excursus divagation round bracket incidentally ampersand intermezzo episode departure gap interval deviation divergence hiatus

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Antonyms

same service beginning separate matter question

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Hypernyms

content message substance punctuation punctuation mark

Related terms

parenthetical parenthetic parenthesize parentheme parenthesis-point triple parentheses

Derivatives

parentheses

Anagrams

preanthesis

Examples

The art of the parenthesis is one of the great secrets of eloquence in Society. Nicolas Chamfort

life's not a paragraph And death i think is no parenthesis. E. E. Cummings

The world -- A small parenthesis in eternity. Thomas Browne

A cigarette is a breathing space. It makes a parenthesis. The time of a cigarette is a parenthesis, and if it is shared, you are both in that parenthesis. Its like a proscenium arch for a dialogue. John Berger

"tt>/* This bit of chicanery makes a unary function followed by a parenthesis into a function with one argument, highest precedence. */. Larry Wall

we are for each other: then laugh, leaning back in my arms for life's not a paragraph and death i think is no parenthesis. E. E. Cummings

Close letter words and terms

parentheme parenthese parentheses parenthesis-free notation parenthesis-point parenthesise