diaporesis

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. In rhetoric, a figure by which the speaker professes to be in doubt which of several statements to make, which of several courses to pursue or recommend, where to begin or end, or, in general, what to say on a topic: as, What shall I do—remain silent or speak freely? Shall I call this folly, or shall I call it crime? If a judge, the audience, or an opponent is asked to settle the doubt, the figure is called anacœnosis.