metathesis

[ muh-tath-uh-sis ]

noun

, plural me·tath·e·ses [m, uh, -, tath, -, uh, -seez].

1. the transposition of letters, syllables, or sounds in a word, as in the pronunciation [kuhmf, -ter-b, uh, l] for comfortable or [aks] for ask.
2. Chemistry. double decomposition.

metathesis

/ mɪˈtæθəsɪs; ˌmɛtəˈθɛtɪk /

noun

1. the transposition of two sounds or letters in a word
2. chem another name for double decomposition

Derived Forms

• metathetic, adjective

Other Words From

• met·a·thet·ic [met-, uh, -, thet, -ik], meta·theti·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of metathesis¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from Late Latin: literally, “transposition of letters of a word,” from Greek metáthesis “transposition, change”; meta-, thesis

Word History and Origins

Origin of metathesis¹

C16: from Late Latin, from Greek, from metatithenai to transpose

Example Sentences

Metathesis of r is seen in undren 205, in loruerde 103 the scribe has added r by anticipation.

From Project Gutenberg

The living speech is further characterized by innumerable cases of consonantal metathesis and by parasitic nasalization.

From Project Gutenberg

It seems probable that the word asp in river-names is formed by metathesis from the word aps, p. 27, form 5.

From Project Gutenberg

Mo and do are here changed, by Metathesis and the substitution of one broad vowel for another, into am and ad.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes he lightened the pronunciation by metathesis, as he did when he pronounced interpretor as interpertor.

From Project Gutenberg