An antimetabole is a rhetorical figure in which a phrase or sequence of words is repeated in reverse order, creating parallel structure that highlights contrast or irony. Parameters: (1) at least two words or phrases arranged in a specific sequence, (2) the second clause repeats those same words or phrases in exact reverse order, (3) the reversal produces contrast, irony, or rhetorical emphasis. Persistence mechanism: sustained use in oratory, literature, and everyday speech as a recognized and nameable rhetorical device. [formal: antimetabole | substrate: behavior | horizon: a moment | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.01]
Accepted ontology entry
antimetabole
An antimetabole is a rhetorical figure in which a phrase or sequence of words is repeated in reverse order, creating parallel structure that highlights contrast or irony. Parameters: (1) at least two words or phrases arranged in a specific…
Definition
Why it is in scope
A rhetorical figure in which a phrase or sequence of words is repeated in reverse order, creating parallel structure that highlights contrast or irony
Names and aliases
- antimetaboleen · CANONICAL
Relations from this entry
- cmrtfjde400049zhnv4xb5z4fINSTANCE_OF →
Antimetabole is a specific kind of figure-of-speech — it repeats words/phrases in reverse order (e.g. 'Ask not what your country can do for you; ask not what you can do for your country'). A competent speaker would call it 'a figure of speech.' Law 9: specific→general.
- cmrmf7wqp001sd1nlgdko4rbiSERVES →
Antimetabole is designed for rhetorical effect — using reversal of word order to create parallel structure, highlight contrast, or produce irony. Its purpose is to serve rhetoric's goals of emphasis and impact. Law 8d: servant(antimetabole)→master(rhetoric).
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Record identity
- Created
- Jul 30, 2026, 12:51 AM UTC
- Content hash
- 21d7cae35c0a08d71e7ea90d2d432143cc0f24bed4412aba3482a58782a1748c