hysteron proteron

noun

hys·​ter·​on prot·​er·​on ˌhi-stə-ˌrän-ˈprä-tə-ˌrän 

-tə-rən-ˈprä-tə-rən,

-ˈprȯ-

: a figure of speech consisting of the reversal of a natural or rational order (as in "then came the thunder and the lightning")

Examples of hysteron proteron in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In hysteron proteron the logical order or sequence of objects or events is reversed. —Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2022

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined above