klepsis

Klepsis is a term rooted in Greek, derived from klepsis meaning “a taking” or “a seizure,” itself from the verb kleptein, “to steal.” In classical rhetoric, it denotes a figure of speech built on the deliberate omission of one or more words that are understood from the surrounding context.

The effect of klepsis is to create concision, emphasis, or stylistic subtlety by signaling meaning without repeating all elements of the sentence. A familiar general illustration is the ellipsis in English: “I came, I saw, (I) conquered,” where the verb is recoverable from context and therefore omitted. Klepsis can also operate at the level of entire clauses, leaving listeners to supply the missing material.

In relation to modern terms, klepsis is often treated as a form of ellipsis—the broader linguistic category for intentional omission. Some scholars distinguish klepsis as specifically referring to omissions whose recoverable material remains syntactically implied, whereas ellipsis can be broader and include other deletions. The distinction is not universally observed, and the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably.

Applications of klepsis appear in ancient poetry and rhetoric, where it aids compact expression and rhetorical effect. In contemporary analysis, recognizing klepsis helps readers interpret passages where words are left out yet their meaning is still implied by context, grammar, or shared conventions.