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hysteron proteron

noun
hys·​ter·​on prot·​er·​on | \ ˌhi-stə-ˌrän-ˈprä-tə-ˌrän How to pronounce hysteron proteron (audio) , -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")

First Known Use of hysteron proteron

1565, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for hysteron proteron

Late Latin, from Greek, literally, (the) later earlier, (the) latter first

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The first known use of hysteron proteron was in 1565

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