aposiopesis

Etymology

From Latin aposiopesis, from Ancient Greek ἀποσιώπησις (aposiṓpēsis), from ἀποσιωπάω (aposiōpáō, “be silent”), from ἀπό (apó, “off, from”) + σιωπάω (siōpáō, “to be silent”).

noun

1. (rhetoric) An abrupt breaking-off in speech, often indicated in print using an ellipsis (…) or an em dash (—).
   “If you are not—” The aposiopesis was icy. 1911, Max Beerbohm, Zuleika Dobson
   “Have fire in this garret before night or—” / He stopped because he could not go on. It was an aposiopesis of the purest kind. 1938, Samuel Beckett, Murphy, London: George Routledge & Sons, OCLC 939632162; republished New York, N.Y.: Grove Press, 1957, OCLC 855435111, page 164
   This somewhat abrupt ending (or aposiopesis) is caused by a previous movement from the figure on the bed. 1982, John Fowles, Mantissa, London: Jonathan Cape