Anagram

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈæ.nə.ɡɹæm/

Definitions

1. A form of wordplay involves creating a new term or phrase by rearranging the letters of an existing one for humorous or clever effect
2. This linguistic phenomenon creates distinct words or phrases through the reordering of letters from other words, often for entertainment
3. A playful linguistic activity rearranges letters from a word to form a new one, creating a different meaning or sound in the process

Etymology: The most striking thing about "anagram" is how little its meaning has changed since its Greek roots. The word combines "ana", meaning "up" or "back", with "gramma", meaning "letter", so the literal sense is something like "letters turned back or over." That is exactly what happens in the game: the letters of one word or phrase are turned around into another, so "listen" becomes "silent." The word reached English in the late 16th century, borrowed either from Middle French "anagramme" or directly from Latin "anagramma," both drawing on the Greek. Its shape has barely shifted in the four centuries since, which makes it one of the more transparent words in the language: the parts still announce exactly what they mean.

Synonyms: rearrangement, scramble