antimetabole en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˌæn.tɪ.məˈtæ.bə.li/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˌæn.tə.məˈtæ.bə.li/ (General-American)
- /ˌæn.tɪ.mɛˈtæ.bə.li/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˌæn.ti.məˈtæ.bə.li/ (General-American)
- /ˌæn.taɪ.məˈtæ.bə.li/ (General-American)
Etymology
From Ancient Greek ἀντιμεταβολή (antimetabolḗ). By surface analysis, anti- (“opposite”) + Ancient Greek μετᾰβολή (metăbolḗ, “transformation”).
Meanings
-
(countable, rhetoric, uncountable) The technique of repeating a phrase while reversing the order of certain elements or its grammatical structure, as a form of juxtaposition.
"Mankind must put an end to war or else war will put an end to mankind." Many other instances may be found in kind. As one reserves fine china for the most special occasions and in only the most select company, so Kennedy used his beloved antimetabole.
2008, Michael E Eidenmuller, Great Speeches For Better Speaking, page 92:Antimetabole at effect will strain, And words and terms revers'd employ again.
1835, L[arret] Langley, “[Rhetorical Turns.] Antimetabole.”, in A Manual of the Figures of Rhetoric, […], Doncaster, South Yorkshire: […] C. White, […], →OCLC, page 90:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| antimetaboles | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Relateds
metabolism · chiasmus · antimetabolic · anastrophe · metabola · antimetabolite
Translations (10)
sh antimetàbola (rhetorical technique) · pl antymetateza (rhetorical technique) · pl antymetabola (rhetorical technique) · pl antymetalepsja (rhetorical technique) · oc antimetabòla (rhetorical technique) · pt antimetábole (rhetorical technique) · ru антимета́бола (rhetorical technique) · sh антимета̀бола (rhetorical technique) · fr antimétabole (rhetorical technique) · mi kupu huri hāngai (rhetorical technique)