parenthesis

[puh-ren-thuh-sis] /pəˈrɛn θə sɪs/

noun, plural parentheses

[puh-ren-thuh-seez] /pəˈrɛn θəˌsiz/ (Show IPA)

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.

Usually, parentheses. the material contained within these marks.

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.

an interval.

Origin

1560-70; < Late Latin < Greek parénthesis a putting in beside. See par-, en-², thesis

Examples from the web for parenthesis

In parenthesis was a notation that the word is a contemptuous colloquialism.
Oh, and above, that's a colon placed properly within a parenthesis not a smiley.
Btw, your parenthesis format for comments is a royal pain to read, particularly when you're in a hurry.
Until this moment my conception of arch shape had been uncomplicated: a single sideways parenthesis, more or less.
Your explanation in parenthesis would result in everybody paying the same dollar amount in taxes.
Sorry for the rant and the excessive use of parenthesis, my thoughts were scattered.
Enter phone number without parenthesis, spaces or hyphens.
Sources are listed in parenthesis after the definition.
It is not necessary to include parenthesis or dashes.
Content is refreshed at the times shown in parenthesis above.

British Dictionary definitions for parenthesis

parenthesis

/pəˈrɛnθɪsɪs/

noun (pl) -ses (-ˌsiːz)

a phrase, often explanatory or qualifying, inserted into a passage with which it is not grammatically connected, and marked off by brackets, dashes, etc

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

an intervening occurrence; interlude; interval

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 parenthesis

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]