metaphrase

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek μεταφράζομαι (metaphrázomai, “consider after”). By surface analysis, meta- +‎ phrase.

Noun

metaphrase (plural metaphrases)

1. a literal, word-for-word translation.
2. An answering phrase; repartee.
   • 1856, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “Eighth Book”, in Aurora Leigh, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1857, →OCLC:

     I'm somewhat dull still in the manly art
     Of phrase and metaphrase. Why, any man
     Can carve a score of white Loves out of snow,
     As Buonarroti down in Florence there,
     And set them on the wall in some safe shade […]

Verb

metaphrase (third-person singular simple present metaphrases, present participle metaphrasing, simple past and past participle metaphrased)

1. to make such a literal translation.

See also

• Translation