First Known Use: circa 1538
Dictionary
metathesis
noun me·tath·e·sis \mə-ˈta-thə-səs\
plural me·tath·e·ses\-ˌsēz\
Definition of METATHESIS
: a change of place or condition: as a : transposition of two phonemes in a word (as in the development of crud from curd or the pronunciation \ˈpər-tē\ for pretty) b : a chemical reaction in which different kinds of molecules exchange parts to form other kinds of molecules
— met·a·thet·i·cal \ˌme-tə-ˈthe-ti-kəl\ or met·a·thet·ic \-tik\ adjective
— met·a·thet·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
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Origin of METATHESIS
Late Latin, from Greek, from metatithenai to transpose, from meta- + tithenai to place — more at do
Medical Dictionary
metathesis
noun me·tath·e·sis \mə-ˈtath-ə-səs\
plural me·tath·e·ses \-ˌsēz\
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