Meanings
plural eroteses
- rhetoricA figure of speech whereby a question is asked in confident expectation of a negative answer.
By Erotesis, what we know we ask, Prescribing, for effect, a needless task.
1835, L[arret] Langley, “[Rhetorical Figures.] Erotesis.”, in A Manual of the Figures of Rhetoric, […], Doncaster, South Yorkshire: […] C. White, […], →OCLC, page 311 more example
he would ſometimes break off in a ſudden and ſpirited Epiphonema, or rather Erotesis […] and demand it categorically of his antagoniſt, Whether he would take upon him to ſay, he had ever remember'd,—whether he had ever read,–or even whether he had ever heard tell of a man, call'd Tristram, performing any thing great or worth recording?–No–, he would ſay,–Tristram!–The thing is impoſſible.
1759, [Laurence Sterne], chapter XIX, in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, 2nd (1st London) edition, volume I, London: […] R[obert] and J[ames] Dodsley […], published 1760, →OCLC, page 126
Origin
- Ancient Greekἐρώτησις
- Late Latinerotesis
- Englisherotesis
From Late Latin erotesis, from Ancient Greek ἐρώτησις (erṓtēsis), from ἐρωτάω (erōtáō, “I question”).
More words from Late Latin, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
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Cite this entry
erotesis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/erotesis
“erotesis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/erotesis. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “erotesis,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/erotesis.
Source: erotesis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.