apophasis

Meaning

Noun

• An allusion to something by denying that it will be mentioned.
• A process of arriving at knowledge by statements of denial; particularly, developing a concept of God through negative assertions about his nature.

Origin

• Via Late Latin apophasis from Ancient Greek ἀπόφασις from ἀπο- + φάσις from φημί from Proto-Hellenic *pʰā́mā from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂-; whence Latin fārī, cognate to fame, fable.