or APORIME, a problem difficult to resolve, and which has never been resolved, though it be not, in itself, impossible.

The word is derived from ἀπόρος which signifies something very difficult, and impracticable; being formed from the privative ἀ and ὁρίζω, paflage. Such we conceive the quadrature of the circle; the duplication of the cube; the trisection of an angle, &c. When a question was proposed to any of the Greek philosophers, especially of the sect of Academists; if he could not give a solution, his answer was, Απόρησις, I cannot see through it.—This word is also used by some law writers for an inexplicable speech or discourse.

APOSIOPEPSIS, in rhetoric, otherwise called reticency, and suppression; a figure, by which a person really speaks of a thing, at the same time that he makes a show as if he would say nothing of it. The word comes from ἀποσιωπάω, I am silent.—It is commonly used to denote the same with ELLIPSIS. Jul. Scaliger distinguishes them. The latter, according to him, being only the suppression of a word; as, me, me; adsum qui feci: the former, the omitting to relate some part of the action; as,

Dixerat, atque illam media inter talia ferro Collapsum adspicium—

where the poet does not mention how Dido killed herself.—This figure is of use to keep up the grandeur and sublimity of a discourse.