Aposiopesis (/ˌæpəsaɪ.əˈpiːsɪs/; Classical Greek: ἀποσιώπησις, "becoming silent") is a figure of speech wherein a sentence is deliberately broken off and left unfinished, the ending to be supplied by the imagination, giving an impression of unwillingness or inability to continue.
This device often portrays its users as overcome with passion (fear, anger, excitement) or modesty.
Iam caelum terramque meō sine nūmine, ventī, miscēre et tantās audētis tollere mōlēs?
Now, winds, you dare to embroil the sky and the earth without my approval, and raise up such a mass?
nec requieuit enim, donec Calchante ministro— sed quid ego haec autem nequiquam ingrata revoluo?
Ulixes kept terrifying me with new accusations, kept spreading ambiguous rumors among the people, and kept looking for quarrel.
This is the hag, when maids lie on their backs, That presses them and learns them first to bear, Making them women of good carriage: This is she— Romeo.
Because an aposiopesis implies the trailing off of thought, it is never directly followed by a period, which would effectively result in four consecutive dots.