Today's Word: Chiasmus (Noun)
Pronunciation: [kI-'æz-mês]

Definition 1: A two-part rhetorical structure with a clever inversion of the first part in the second, e.g. "When the going gets tough, the tough get going" or "Never negotiate out of fear, but never fear to negotiate."

Usage 1: The adjective is "chiasmic (chiastic, or chiasmal)" which can double as a noun referring to someone who is addicted to chiasmuses. One of the most quoted chiasmuses of the past century is John Kennedy's, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." Letter chiasmuses, that only switch one (alphabetical) letter, are also popular: "An experimental psychologist is someone who pulls habits out of rats" or, "Scholars are advised to apply for several grants at the time so as not to put all their begs in one askit."

Suggested usage: Here are a few chiasmuses to practice on. Lord Byron wrote, "Pleasure's a sin, and sometimes sin's a pleasure." An old Edwardian toast runs, "Here's to champagne for our real friends and real pain for our sham friends." Betsy Cronkite, wife of U.S. newscaster, Walter, said, "Errol Flynn died on a 70-foot boat with a 17-year-old girl. Walter has always wanted to go that way, but he's going to settle for a 17-footer with a 70-year-old." Finally, perhaps the most quoted U.S. chiasmic, Mae West, said, "I'd rather be looked over than overlooked" and "It's not the men in my life, it's the life in my men." (For more examples of chiasmus, read "Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You" by Dr. Mardy Grothe.)

Etymology: From Greek chiasmos "crossing, diagonal arrangement" from chiazein "to mark with a cross" from the Greek letter chi (X). Related to "chiasma" (plural "chiasmata"), as in the optic chiasma, the crossing of the optic nerves in middle of the brain. (We are grateful that our paths crossed that of John Daly of Bloomfield, Connecticut, so that he could pass along today's word.)
—Dr. Language, www.yourDictionary.com