prōˈlepsə̇s chiefly Brit -lēp- noun
( plural prolep·ses -pˌsēz)
Etymology: Greek prolēpsis anticipation, preconception, from prolambanein to take beforehand, anticipate, from pro- pro- (I) + lambanein to take — more at latch
1. : the representation or assumption of a future act or development as being presently existing or accomplished : prochronism
that prolepsis , or prevision and apprehension of holiness which we call faith — Wilham Sunday
2.
a. : a figure in which a matter is set forth in summary before being stated or related in detail
a relation by prolepsis , anticipation of the story — L.D.Lerner
b. : a figure by which objections are anticipated in order to weaken their force
thought it needful … by way of prolepsis , to prevent whatsoever might be surmised in that kind — Robert Sanderson
c. : the use of an attribute to denote a future condition or development as existing or occurrent when it is actually consequential (as in “ere humane statute purged the gentle weal”) : anticipative use of an adjective
3.
a. : a conception or belief derived from sense perception and therefore regarded as not necessarily true
b. : an empirical general conception — used especially in Stoicism and Epicureanism
4. : presupposition , postulate
that nature should form real shells, without any design of covering an animal, is contrary to that innate prolepsis we have of the prudence of nature — John Ray