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Date: Thu, 23 Nov 2000 16:01:00 -0800 (PST)
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Subject: A.Word.A.Day--hysteron proteron
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hysteron proteron (HIS-tuh-ron PROT-uh-ron) noun

   1. A figure of speech in which the natural or rational order of its
      terms is reversed, as in bred and born instead of born and bred.

   2. The logical fallacy of assuming as true and using as a premise
      a proposition that is yet to be proved.

[Late Latin, from Greek husteron proteron, latter first : husteron, neuter
sing. of husteros, latter, later + proteron, neuter sing. of proteros,
former.]

   "Intriguingly linked with this imprecision is the hysteron proteron of
   line 6, whose uncertain sequence of bearing arms, and then learning their
   use opens more space between the two acts than it closes."
   Bruce Danner, Courteous virtu in Spenser's Book 6 of 'The Faerie Queene.'
   Studies in English Literature, Winter 1998.

This week's theme: words from the world of literature.

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Pronunciation:
http://wordsmith.org/words/hysteron_proteron.wav
http://wordsmith.org/words/hysteron_proteron.ram