parenthesis

pə-ˈren(t)-thə-səs 4 syllables very rare

  1. noun. an amplifying or explanatory word, phrase, or sentence inserted in a passage from which it is usually set off by punctuation

    • explained further in a parenthesis
    • The speaker inserted some often amusing parentheses during his speech.

  2. noun. a remark or passage that departs from the theme of a discourse: digression

    • The parenthesis of war interrupted the course of his life.
    • The plant's common name is followed by its Latin name in parentheses.

  3. noun. interlude, interval

Source

Origin

Late Latin, from Greek, literally, act of inserting, from parentithenai to insert, from para- + en- en- + tithenai to place.

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Noun
2025