metathesis

English

/mə.ˈtæ.θə.sɪs/, /mə.ˈtæ.θə.sɪs/

noun
Definitions
  • (phonetics) The transposition of letters, syllables or sounds within a word, such as in ask as /æks/.
  • (inorganic chemistry) The double decomposition of inorganic salts.
  • (organic chemistry) The breaking and reforming of double bonds in olefins in which substituent groups are swapped.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin metathesis derived from Ancient Greek μετάθεσις, μετά (between, after, among, with, in the middle, behind, beyond) + Ancient Greek θέσις (a proposition, a statement, thesis in prosody, thesis in rhetoric, a thing laid down, arrangement, proposition, setting, placement).

Origin

Ancient Greek

θέσις

Gloss

a proposition, a statement, thesis in prosody, thesis in rhetoric, a thing laid down, arrangement, proposition, setting, placement

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms