| metathesis | |
| me-ta'-the-sis | |
| transposicio | |
| transposition |
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The transposition of letters within a word. A kind of metaplasm (and sometimes a kind of paronomasia.) | |
| Examples | ||
| Several
transpositions of letters in the first two words make possible the last
two words of this humorous statement: "Elvis Lives in Evil Levis." American spelling is often simply metathesis
applied to the original British spelling: |
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| Related Figures | ||
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| See Also | ||
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| Sources: | Isidore 2.21.34; Mosellanus a4r; Susenbrotus (1540) 23; Sherry (1550) 2 ("transposicio"); Peacham (1577) E3v | |
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