Langimage
English

anastrophe

|a/nas/tro/phe|

C2

/əˈnæstrəfi/

word order inversion

Etymology
Etymology Information

'anastrophe' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'anastrophē,' where 'ana-' meant 'back' and 'strophē' meant 'turning.'

Historical Evolution

'anastrophē' was adopted into Latin as 'anastrophe,' and eventually became the modern English word 'anastrophe.'

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'turning back,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'inversion of word order for rhetorical effect.'

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

a rhetorical device in which the normal order of words is reversed, typically for emphasis or poetic effect.

In the sentence 'Powerful you have become, the dark side I sense in you,' Yoda uses anastrophe.

Synonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/22 19:04