hysteron proteron
[ his-tuh-ron prot-uh-ron ]
/ ˈhɪs təˌrɒn ˈprɒt əˌrɒn /
noun Rhetoric.
a figure of speech in which the logical order of two elements in discourse is reversed, as in “bred and born” for “born and bred.”
Origin of hysteron proteron
1555–65; < Late Latin < Greek
hýsteron (neuter of
hýsteros) latter +
próteron (neuter of
próteros) former
Words nearby hysteron proteron
hysterolysis,
hysterometer,
hysteromyoma,
hysteromyomectomy,
hysteromyotomy,
hysteron proteron,
hysteropathy,
hysteropexy,
hysteroplasty,
hysterorrhaphy,
hysterorrhexis
Example sentences from the Web for hysteron proteron
Hysteron-proteron, his′ter-on-prot′er-on, n. a figure of speech in which what should follow comes first: an inversion.
We may observe that 'owe' and 'succeed' are legal terms, which here form a hysteron-proteron, like some other common phrases.
British Dictionary definitions for hysteron proteron
hysteron proteron
/ (ˈhɪstəˌrɒn ˈprɒtəˌrɒn) /
noun
logic
a fallacious argument in which the proposition to be proved is assumed as a premise
rhetoric
a figure of speech in which the normal order of two sentences, clauses, etc, is reversed, as in bred and born (for born and bred)
Word Origin for hysteron proteron
C16: from Late Latin, from Greek
husteron proteron the latter (placed as) former