parenthesis

[puh-ren-thuh-sis] /pəˈrɛn θə sɪs/
noun, plural parentheses
[puh-ren-thuh-seez] /pəˈrɛn θəˌsiz/ (Show IPA)
1.
either or both of a pair of signs () used in writing to mark off an interjected explanatory or qualifying remark, to indicate separate groupings of symbols in mathematics and symbolic logic, etc.
2.
Usually, parentheses. the material contained within these marks.
3.
Grammar. a qualifying, explanatory, or appositive word, phrase, clause, or sentence that interrupts a syntactic construction without otherwise affecting it, having often a characteristic intonation and indicated in writing by commas, parentheses, or dashes, as in William Smith—you must know him—is coming tonight.
4.
an interval.
Origin
1560-70; < Late Latin < Greek parénthesis a putting in beside. See par-, en-2, thesis
Examples from the web for parentheses
  • Here are restaurants that plan to open later this year or early next year, on the dates in parentheses.
  • The other permitted alternative was to spell out the name and then give the acronym in parentheses.
  • If the trade name differs from the common name, it is given in parentheses.
  • Their developers or producers are listed in parentheses.
  • In the script for a play, much more is added in parentheses to characterize action.
  • It was treated as a pair of parentheses with nothing in between.
  • His weathered cheeks etched parentheses around his mouth.
  • The price in parentheses is the modern price, adjusted for inflation.
  • Figures of speech, parentheses, and punctuation demand notice.
  • Their uniform hairstyle, usually the shape of gilded parentheses, was telling.
British Dictionary definitions for parentheses

parenthesis

/pəˈrɛnθɪsɪs/
noun (pl) -ses (-ˌsiːz)
1.
a phrase, often explanatory or qualifying, inserted into a passage with which it is not grammatically connected, and marked off by brackets, dashes, etc
2.
Also called bracket. either of a pair of characters, (), used to enclose such a phrase or as a sign of aggregation in mathematical or logical expressions
3.
an intervening occurrence; interlude; interval
4.
in parenthesis, inserted as a parenthesis
Derived Forms
parenthetic (ˌpærənˈθɛtɪk), parenthetical, adjective
parenthetically, adverb
Word Origin
C16: via Late Latin from Greek: something placed in besides, from parentithenai, from para-1 + en-² + tithenai to put
Word Origin and History for parentheses

parenthesis

n.

1540s, "words, clauses, etc. inserted into a sentence," from Middle French parenthèse (15c.), from Late Latin parenthesis "addition of a letter to a syllable in a word," from Greek parenthesis, literally "a putting in beside," from parentithenai "put in beside," from para- "beside" (see para- (1)) + en- "in" + tithenai "put, place," from PIE root *dhe- "to put, to do" (see factitious). Sense extension by 1715 from the inserted words to the curved brackets that indicate the words inserted.

A wooden parenthesis; the pillory. An iron parenthesis; a prison. ["Dictionary of Buckish Slang, University Wit and Pickpocket Eloquence," London, 1811]

parentheses in Culture

parentheses definition


Punctuation marks — ( ) — used to separate elements in a sentence. Parentheses subordinate (see subordination) the material within them so that readers save most of their attention for the rest of the sentence: “Aunt Sarah (who is really my mother's cousin) will be visiting next week.”

parentheses in Technology


See left parenthesis, right parenthesis.
(1997-12-03)