chiasmus
UK[kaɪˈæzməs]US[kaɪˈæzməs]
n
A rhetorical or literary figure in which words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order.
Morpheme Breakdown
chiasm
us
chiasm
crossing
us
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'chiasmus' traces its lineage directly to the Greek 'khiasmos', meaning "a placing crosswise", derived from 'khiazein' (to mark with a chi). This, in turn, originates from 'khi' (Χ), the Greek letter whose shape resembles a cross (X). The term entered English via Latin in the mid-17th century, carrying the core visual metaphor of a criss-cross structure. In rhetoric, this literal concept of crossing evolved to describe the elegant, mirror-inversion of phrases, where the second clause reverses the structure of the first, creating an X-like pattern in the arrangement of ideas.
Analysis
Structure: chiasm (crossing) + us (noun suffix)
- chiasm: From Greek χιασμός (khiasmos), meaning "a crossing, diagonal arrangement", from the Greek letter Chi (Χ).
- us: A Latin noun suffix used to form abstract nouns, often indicating a state, condition, or action.
Examples
The famous quote "Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country" is a classic example of chiasmus.
The poet employed chiasmus in the line "By day the frolic, and the dance by night."
His speech was memorable for its use of chiasmus, structuring key arguments in a balanced, inverted pattern.