parenthetic, a.
(pærənˈθɛtɪk)
[ad. med.L. parenthetic-us, a. Gr. *παρενθετικ-ός, f. παρένθετος ‘put in beside’, f. παρεντιθέναι: see parenthesis.]
1. Of, pertaining to, or of the nature of a parenthesis; inserted as a parenthesis.
| 1776 G. Horne Comm. Ps. lxxiii. 11, I would rather suppose the foregoing verse (to whomsoever it may belong) to be parenthetic. 1824 L. Murray Eng. Gram. (ed. 4) I. 410 The parenthesis itself does not supply the place of a point between the parenthetic clause, and the words immediately preceding it. 1883 J. Parker Apost. Life II. 6 They speak of him with many parenthetic qualifications. |
b. fig. Interposed in the course of something else.
| 1876 Geo. Eliot Dan. Der. xxxiv, Deronda took in these details by parenthetic glances. 1881 Masson De Quincey 61 About a year..of parenthetic peace and happiness. |
2. = next, 2. rare.
| 1782 Tyers Rhapsody on Pope 33 Cleland (whom he describes as a man of sense,..and, to be very parenthetic, who was the Will Honeycomb of the Spectator's club). |