hysteron proteron
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
1Words Nearby hysteron proteron
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use hysteron proteron in a sentence
hysteron proteron—The last first, or the cart before the horse.
His only rule is that of hysteron proteron, or putting the cart before the horse.
The Highlands of Ethiopia | William Cornwallis HarrisHysteron-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
/ (ˈhɪstəˌrɒn ˈprɒtəˌrɒn) /
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)
Origin of hysteron proteron
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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