Hysteron Proteron

Pronunciation: his'-ter-on pro'-ter-on

Alternate Spelling: praeposteratio, prepostera loquutio

Definition

Disorder of time. (What should be first, isn't.) A kind of hyperbaton.

Examples

Put on your shoes and socks. (not in that order, of course) In the following example, the turning of the rudder logically precedes the flight described, yet is mentioned after: Th' Antoniad, the Egyptian admiral, With all their sixty, fly and turn the rudder.