chiasmus

noun

chi·​as·​mus kī-ˈaz-məs 

kē-

: an inverted relationship between the syntactic elements of parallel phrases (as in Goldsmith's to stop too fearful, and too faint to go)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Third, there are several instances of chiasmus, an A-B-B-A pattern. —Sam Bray, Washington Post, 23 July 2017

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek chiasmos, from chiazein to mark with a chi

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined above