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metathesis

noun

  1. the rearranging of sounds or syllables in a word or of words in a sentence in linguistics
L323869 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /məˈtæ.θə.sɪs/ / [məˈtʰæ.θə.səs] / /mɛˈtæ.θə.sɪs/

noun

Etymology: Borrowed from Late Latin metathesis, from Ancient Greek μετάθεσις (metáthesis), from μετά (metá, “among”) + θέσις (thésis, “placement”).

  1. The transposition of letters, syllables or sounds within a word, such as in ask as /æks/.
  2. The double decomposition of inorganic salts.
  3. The breaking and reforming of double bonds in olefins in which substituent groups are swapped.