proleptical

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/pɹəʊˈlɛptɪkəl/

adjective

Anticipating the usual time; applied to a periodical disease whose paroxysms return at an earlier hour at every repetition.

Scrabble 17

Meanings

adjectiveproleptical (comparative more proleptical, superlative most proleptical)

comparative more proleptical · superlative most proleptical

  1. Anticipating the usual time; applied to a periodical disease whose paroxysms return at an earlier hour at every repetition.
  2. Previous; antecedent.

    Nor can the proleptical notions of Religion be so well defended by the protest Servants of the Altar

    1665, Joseph Glanvill, Scepsis Scientifica: Or, Confest Ignorance, the Way to Science; […], London: […] E. C[otes] for Henry Eversden […], →OCLC
  3. Of or pertaining to prolepsis; anticipative.

    It must be always remembered that this was the object for which the Three Chapters which the Predestinarians have taken refuge in: they were written in fact as a proleptical refutation of such views.

    1877, W. B. Pope., A Compendium of Christian Theology, Volume 2, Wesleyan Conference Office, 2 Castle Street, Coty Road; Sold at 66, Paternoster Row, p. 348

Origin

From Ancient Greek; compare French proleptique.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

proleptical. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/proleptical

MLA

“proleptical.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/proleptical. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “proleptical,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/proleptical.

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