hysteron proteron

noun hys·ter·on prot·er·on \ˌhis-tə-ˌrän-ˈprä-tə-ˌrän, -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”)

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

First Known Use: 1565

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