Definition:
“Procatalepsis is a rhetorical strategy by which a speaker or writer anticipates and responds to an opponent's objections.”
Nordquist, Richard. "Definition and Examples of Procatalepsis in Rhetoric." ThoughtCo, 28 Aug. 2020, www.thoughtco.com/procatalepsis-definition- 1691540. Accessed 1 Sept. 2022.
Informal Definition:
Procatalepsis is when an author or speaker anticipates possible objections by bringing them up one their own and answering the possible objections directly after addressing them.
Example: "'Listen, Liz, I know this is tough to hear, but—'"
[The assumption being in italics, the author anticipates Liz’s feelings about the situation]
Nordquist, Richard. "Definition and Examples of Procatalepsis in Rhetoric." ThoughtCo, 28 Aug. 2020, www.thoughtco.com/procatalepsis-definition- 1691540. Accessed 1 Sept. 2022.
Etymology:
“From Ancient Greek προ- ("before") + κατάληψις ("act of seizing"), via Latin procatalepsis ("anticipating and answering an objection").”
"procatalepsis." WordSense Online Dictionary, www.wordsense.eu/procatalepsis/. Accessed 1 Sept. 2022.
Taylor P.