Parenthesis: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word comes from the Greek 'parenthesis', meaning 'to place beside'.
• It was introduced into English in the late 16th century, reflecting its use in scholarly writing.
• In the Greek language, 'para' means 'beside' and 'thesis' means 'putting', referring to the placement of additional information beside the main text.

Literature

• Writers often use parentheses to add authors' notes or afterthoughts without interrupting the flow of a story.
• Famous authors like Jane Austen utilized parentheticals to add humor or sarcasm in their novels.
• In poetry, parentheses can create rhythm variations and add playful elements to the reading experience.

Mathematics

• In math, parentheses indicate which calculations to perform first in a sequence, helping avoid confusion.
• The use of parentheses in equations can change entire outcomes, reflecting their importance in order of operations.
• Commonly, a pair of parentheses is used to encapsulate variables or numbers for clarity in complex formulas.

Pop Culture

• In comic strips, the use of parentheses often conveys thoughts or side comments from characters, adding depth to dialogue.
• Television shows often utilize parentheses during subtitles to indicate sounds or actions that are not explicitly spoken.
• Popular memes sometimes play with the idea of using parentheses for humorous effects, emphasizing the contrast between spoken and 'hidden' thoughts.

Psychology

• Using parentheses can help individuals express their inner thoughts or feelings in writing while keeping them somewhat detached from the main narrative.
• In therapy and journaling, individuals might often place their emotions or thoughts in parentheses to explore them without fully integrating them into their main narrative.
• Research suggests that using parenthetical expressions can aid cognitive processing, allowing readers to better understand complex ideas.

With rank #18,845, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.

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