hysteron proteron
hys·ter·on prot·er·on
noun\ˌhis-tə-ˌrän-ˈprä-tə-ˌrän, -tə-rən-ˈprä-tə-rən, -ˈprȯ-\
Definition of HYSTERON PROTERON
: a figure of speech consisting of the reversal of a natural or rational order (as in “then came the thunder and the lightning”)
Origin of HYSTERON PROTERON
Late Latin, from Greek, literally, (the) later earlier, (the) latter first
First Known Use: 1565
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