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hy·per·ba·ton

(hī-pûrbə-tŏn′)

A figure of speech that uses deviation from normal or logical word order for rhetorical effect, as in anastrophe or hysteron proteron.

[Greek huperbaton, from neuter of huperbatos, transposed, from huperbainein, to step over : huper-, over, across; see HYPER- + bainein, to step; see g^wā- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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