noun pl. metatheses
transposition or interchange; specif.,
- the transposition of sounds in a word or between words: “clasp” developed from Middle English “clapse” by metathesis; spoonerisms are examples of metathesis
- Chem. the interchange of elements or radicals between compounds, as when two compounds react with each other to form two new compounds
Origin:
LL < Gr, transposition, a going over < metatithenai, to put over, transpose < meta, over (see meta-) + tithenai, to place (see do)