parenthetic
Set off, grammatically
Parenthetic describes something inserted as an aside or afterthought, like a remark that interrupts without being essential to the main point: She added, in a parenthetic comment, that she'd never liked him anyway.
The word relates to parentheses—the punctuation marks that set off such insertions—but applies more broadly to any digressive or explanatory aside.
Also parenthetical.
Brief theatrical digression
- interjectionEmotional outcry word class
- interpolationEstimating between known values
- interpositionPlacing something between others
- digressionVeering off topic
tangent · excursus · detour · deviation · diversion · qualifier · addendum · bracket
Tending to stray topically
- discursiveTending to wander topically
- tangentialBarely connected to main point
- incidentalMinor and unplanned
- subordinateOne lower in rank
nonessential · nonrestrictive · ancillary · supplementary · secondary · peripheral · oblique · rambling
Added explanatory comment
- footnoteCitation at page bottom
- glossShine or annotation
- commentaryExplanatory remarks on events
- clarificationMaking meaning plain
elucidation · explication · exposition · note · remark · observation · definition · interpretation
Marks setting off text
- dashesShort fast races
- commasPunctuation for pauses
- enclosureConfined, bordered space
- demarcationFormal boundary setting
offsetting · setting off · em dash · nested · embedded · enclosed
aside
Brief theatrical digression
- interjectionEmotional outcry word class
- interpolationEstimating between known values
- interpositionPlacing something between others
digression · tangent · excursus · detour · deviation · diversion · qualifier · addendum · bracket · incidental
digressive
Tending to stray topically
- discursiveTending to wander topically
- tangentialBarely connected to main point
- incidentalMinor and unplanned
subordinate · nonessential · nonrestrictive · ancillary · supplementary · secondary · peripheral · oblique · rambling
annotation
Added explanatory comment
- footnoteCitation at page bottom
- glossShine or annotation
- commentaryExplanatory remarks on events
clarification · elucidation · explication · exposition · note · remark · observation · definition · interpretation · contextualization
brackets
Marks setting off text
demarcation · offsetting · setting off · em dash · nested · embedded · enclosed
parentheticessential
Fundamentally necessary
fundamental · basic · central · core · crucial
parentheticintegral
Antiderivative or crucial component
integrated · embedded · inline · incorporated · continuous