SINCE 1828
hysteron proteron
noun
hys·ter·on prot·er·on
| \ ˌhi-stə-ˌrän-ˈprä-tə-ˌrän
, -tə-rən-ˈprä-tə-rən, -ˈprȯ-\
, -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")
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