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metathesize

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From metathesis +‎ -ize.

Verb

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metathesize (third-person singular simple present metathesizes, present participle metathesizing, simple past and past participle metathesized)

  1. (linguistics) To undergo or to subject to metathesis; of sounds, to switch positions in a word.
    • 1939, Morris Swadesh & C. F. Voegelin, A Problem in Phonological Alternation, in Language, Vol. 15, No. 1
      Cases like mu·yh : mu·hyut may be accounted for under a rule that clusters of h plus sonorant metathesize in word-final position.
    • 1888, James W. Bright, Thraf-Caik, in Modern Language Notes, Vol. 3, No. 3
      The significance of noticing the existence of this adjective tharf by the side of the metathesized form thraf is of course apparent
    • 1962, Gene M. Schramm, An Outline of Classical Arabic Verb Structure, in Language, Vol. 38, No. 4
      If the first of two identical consonants in sequence is postconsonantal and the second intervocalic, metathesize the first with the following vowel (geminate roots only).