Deêsis is primarily a rhetorical term. It means making and exclamation calling someone to witness. Contrary to what Webster 1913 says, the Supreme Being is not necessarily involved, except when one says something like "for God's sake...".
It means "entreaty" in Classical Greek. Since the second letter e is long (eta), it should probably have the primary stress.
De*e"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. supplication.] Rhet.
An invocation of, or address to, the Supreme Being.
© Webster 1913.
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