metathesis

American  

[muh-tath-uh-sis] / məˈtæθ ə sɪs /

noun

• metatheses
  plural

1. the transposition of letters, syllables, or sounds in a word, as in the pronunciation for comfortable or for ask.

2. Chemistry. double decomposition.

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metathesis British  

/ mɪˈtæθəsɪs /

noun

1. the transposition of two sounds or letters in a word

2. chem another name for double decomposition

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• metathetic
  adjective
• metathetical
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• metatheses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of metathesis

First recorded in 1530–40; from Late Latin: literally, “transposition of letters of a word,” from Greek metáthesis “transposition, change”; see meta-, thesis

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

metathesis metatheses

To this purpose, they employed both a chemical reaction called ring-closing metathesis and photocatalysis -- a process in which chemical reactions are promoted by light energy.

From Science Daily ● May 2, 2024

He became particularly interested in metathesis, a word meaning changing places, involving chemical reactions in which two carbon-based molecules exchange fragments under the influence of a third molecule, known as a catalyst.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 29, 2021

Schrock discovered that two metals, tungsten and molybdenum, were effective catalysts in producing metathesis, which means “changing places.”

From Washington Post ● Dec. 25, 2021

What’s going on there is metathesis, and it’s a very common, perfectly natural process.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 15, 2019

In the modern Niffer we may recognize the Talmudical Nopher, and the Assyrian Nipur which is Nipru, with a mere metathesis of the two final letters.

From The Seven Great Monarchies Of The Ancient Eastern World, Vol 1. (of 7): Chaldaea The History, Geography, And Antiquities Of Chaldaea, Assyria, Babylon, Media, Persia, Parthia, And Sassanian or New Persian Empire; With Maps and Illustrations. by George Rawlinson

No wonder that editor Haug cautioned the young poet against nonsense, obscurity and exaggerated metatheses.

From The Life and Works of Friedrich Schiller by Calvin Thomas