Hy·pēr'ba·tŏn, n.

n. [Gr. ὑπέρβατον, properly neut., from ὑπερβατός, transposed, inverted, from ὑπερβαίνειν, to step over or beyond; from ὑπέρ, over, and βαίνειν, to step, go.] (Gram.) A figurative construction, changing or reversing the natural and proper order of words and sentences.