Dictionary entry

Transposition

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Trans′po‐si″tion (?), n. [F. transposition, from L. transponere, transpositum, to set over, remove, transfer; trans across, over + ponere to place. See Position.] The act of transposing, or the state of being transposed. Specifically: —

(a) (Alg.) The bringing of any term of an equation from one side over to the other without destroying the equation.

(b) (Gram.) A change of the natural order of words in a sentence; as, the Latin and Greek languages admit transposition, without inconvenience, to a much greater extent than the English.

(c) (Mus.) A change of a composition into another key.