Where does “metathesis” come from?
Metathesis comes from Late Latin metathesis, from Ancient Greek μετάθεσις, derived from θέσις and τίθημι, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European dʰeh₁- meaning to place or put.
metathesis (English): The transposition of letters, syllables or sounds...
Definitions
- The transposition of letters, syllables or sounds...
Ancestry of “metathesis”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | metathesis | — |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | μετάθεσις | transposition |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | θέσις | a setting, placement, arrangement; deposit;... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | τίθημι | I put, place, set; I make, cause to be; I make |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰeh₁- | to do, put, place |