metaphrase

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈmɛtəˌfreɪz/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(met′ə frāz′)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
met•a•phrase  (met′ə frāz′),USA pronunciation n., v., -phrased, -phras•ing. 
n. 
  1. Literaturea literal translation.

v.t. 
  1. Literatureto translate, esp. literally.
  2. Literatureto change the phrasing or literary form of.
  • Greek metáphrasis a paraphrasing, change of phrasing. See meta-, phrase
  • 1600–10

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
metaphrase /ˈmɛtəˌfreɪz/ n also: metaphrasis
  1. a literal translation
    Compare paraphrase
 vb (transitive)
  1. to alter or manipulate the wording of
  2. to translate literally
Etymology: 17th Century: from Greek metaphrazein to translate

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