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Answer for the clue "Inversion in the second of two parallel phrases ", 8 letters:
chiasmus

Word definitions for chiasmus in dictionaries

Wikipedia Word definitions in Wikipedia
Chiasmus is a secret German government block cipher that was leaked by reverse engineering. It became notorious for its dilettant use in the BSI 's software GSTOOL, which used it in insecure Electronic Codebook (ECB) mode and generated the key with a pseudo ...

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. (context rhetoric English) An inversion of the relationship between the elements of phrases.

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. inversion in the second of two parallel phrases [also: chiasmi (pl)]

The Collaborative International Dictionary Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Chiasmus \Chi*as"mus\ (k[-i]*[a^]z"m[u^]s), n. [NL., fr. Gr. chiasmo`s a placing crosswise, fr. chia`zein. See Chiasm .] (Rhet.) An inversion of the order of words or phrases, when repeated or subsequently referred to in a sentence; thus, If e'er to ...

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary Word definitions in Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
in grammar, inversion of word order, 1871, Latinized from Greek khiasmos "a placing crosswise, diagonal arrangement" (see chi ).\n\nAdam, first of men,\n To first of women, Eve.\n ["Paradise Lost"] \n

Usage examples of chiasmus.

The point is how the chiasmus contributes to the meaning of the passage.

As the backs of several Snakes and Serpents, elegantly remarkable in the Aspis, and the Dart-snake, in the Chiasmus and larger decussations upon the back of the Rattle-snake, and in the close and finer texture of the mater formicarum, or snake that delights in Ant-hils.