METATHESIS

(Lat.), n. f. Me2t-a2th(a3th)'e2s-i2s. Gen., thes'eos (-ath'esis). Gr., fierdtfeo-is (from utrariOevai, to place differently). Fr., meta the sie. Ger.. M., Versetzung. 1. In chemistry, see Single DECOMPOSITION and Double DECOMPOSITION. 2. An operation for transferring the cause of a disease from the place where it exists to a locality where it would be le disturbing, such as returning a prostatic calculus to the bladder. [L. 55 (a, 34).] [s. 765]