metathesis

[Lat., from Gr. metathesis, from meta, denoting change, and thesis a placing; tithemi to place; Fr. métathèse.] 1. Gram.: The transposition of the letters of a word; as, A. S. waps wasp; ascian , acsian =ask; brid =bird, . 2. Surg .: An operation by which a morbific agent is removed from one place to another, where it may produce le disturbance; as, for instance, when a calculus in the urethra is pushed back into the bladder. met-a-thet-Ic, mět-a-thet-Ic-al, a. [МЕТАTHESIS.] Pertaining to metathesis; formed by metathesis.