chiasmus

noun

chi·​as·​mus kī-ˈaz-məs How to pronounce chiasmus (audio)
kē-
: an inverted relationship between the syntactic elements of parallel phrases (as in Goldsmith's to stop too fearful, and too faint to go)

Examples of chiasmus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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

Time Traveler
The first known use of chiasmus was in 1871

Dictionary Entries Near chiasmus

Cite this Entry

“Chiasmus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chiasmus. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!