anastrophe

[ uh-nas-truh-fee ]

/ əˈnæs trə fi /

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noun Rhetoric.

inversion of the usual order of words.

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of anastrophe

1570–80; <Greek: turning back. See ana-, strophe

Words nearby anastrophe

anastigmatic, anastomose, anastomosis, anastomotic branch, anastomotic ulcer, anastrophe, anastrozole, anastylosis, anat., anata, anatabine

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use anastrophe in a sentence

This is the only sentence in Arrian where suffers anastrophe, coming after the noun.
The Anabasis of Alexander|Arrian of Nicomedia

British Dictionary definitions for anastrophe

anastrophe

/ (əˈnæstrəfɪ) /

noun

rhetoric another term for inversion (def. 3)

Word Origin for anastrophe

C16: from Greek, from anastrephein to invert

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012