parenthetic
/ˌpærənˈθɛtɪk/
adjective
Origin
Ancient Greek
παρεντιθέναι — to insert beside
Overview
Meaning Now
- Relating to or inserted as a parenthesis.
- Expressed in, or used as, an interjected comment or aside.
Literal older meaning
placed alongside
Language path
Ancient Greek → Late Latin → English
Earliest form
parentheticus
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The term derives from the Greek practice of 'parenthesis', referring to the addition of a word or phrase into a complete sentence, often set apart by punctuation. It evolved from rhetoric to describe any remark that interrupts the main flow of thought.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
παρένθεσις
“insertion”
Noun form parenthes-is
- Late Latin
parentheticus
“of or pertaining to a parenthesis”
- 17th century English
parenthetic
“inserted as an aside”
Connections
Word parts
para-
prefix
beside
en-
prefix
in
thet-
root
to place (from tithenai)
-ic
suffix
pertaining to
Related across languages
French
parenthétique
parenthetic
German
parenthetisch
parenthetic
Explore next
Related to parenthetic
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.