chiasmus

[ kahy-az-muhs ]

noun

, Rhetoric.

, plural chi·as·mi [kahy-, az, -mahy].

1. a reversal in the order of words in two otherwise parallel phrases, as in “He went to the country, to the town went she.”

chiasmus

/ kaɪˈæstɪk; kaɪˈæzməs /

noun

1. rhetoric reversal of the order of words in the second of two parallel phrases

   he came in triumph and in defeat departs

Derived Forms

• chiastic, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chiasmus¹

1870–75; < Greek chiasmós, equivalent to chi chi ¹ + -asmos masculine noun suffix, akin to -asma; chiasma

Word History and Origins

Origin of chiasmus¹

C19: from New Latin, from Greek khiasmos crisscross arrangement; see chiasma

Example Sentences

There is chiasmus here, since privata is contrasted with honoratis and quieta with claris.

From Project Gutenberg

For the more complicated forms of chiasmus consult Ngelsbach, Stil.

From Project Gutenberg