anapodoton

A1N1A1P3O1D2O1T1O1N1
/ˌænəˈpɒdətən/

noun

A special kind of ellipsis in which a main clause implied by a subordinate clause is left out.

OriginAncient Greek ἀναπόδοτον →
Scrabble 13
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Meanings

nounanapodoton (countable and uncountable, plural anapodota)

plural anapodota

  1. countablerhetoricuncountableA special kind of ellipsis in which a main clause implied by a subordinate clause is left out.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekἀναπόδοτον
  2. Englishanapodoton

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek ἀναπόδοτον (anapódoton), alternative form of ἀνανταπόδοτον (anantapódoton) (whence anantapodoton), from ἀν- (an-, “not”) + ἀνταποδίδωμι (antapodídōmi, “to give back, correspond with”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

anapodoton. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anapodoton

MLA

“anapodoton.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anapodoton. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “anapodoton,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anapodoton.

Source: anapodoton on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.