metaplasm (rhetoric)

Definition: A figure of speech where words are transposed from their normal order to increase emphasis.
Example: Why should their gasoline than ours cost less?
Etymology: The word derives from the Greek metaplasso, to remodel (from the Greek plassein, to mold; hence plaster, a substance that can be molded).
Oxford English Dictionary: It first citation is from 1432–50:
"Of the rewles of feete metricalle, of metaplasmus, of dialog metricalle."
(tr. Higden (Rolls) VI. 183)



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