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

Example sentences from the Web for hysteron proteron

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