Extraposition

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The process in grammar where a word or phrase is moved to a later position in a sentence for clarity
2. A syntactic arrangement enabling an element to be positioned at the end of a clause to enhance its focus
3. The linguistic technique of displacing a constituent from its usual position to improve sentence structure or emphasis

Etymology: The word is built from two parts: "extra-", from Latin "extra" meaning "outside" or "beyond," and "position," from Latin "positio," a placing or setting down. Its ancestry runs back to a comparative form, "exterus," meaning "outer," which Latin formed from "exter," itself linked to the idea of something lying outside. Put together, the term literally means a placing outside the usual spot. That is exactly how linguists use it. In a sentence like "Who would you like to meet?", the question word "who" moves to the front, leaving the verb's object behind in a gap. Grammarians describe the displaced element as sitting in a position outside its normal place, which is the core of the term. The prefix "extra-" here does not mean "additional" in the everyday sense; it marks movement beyond the expected location.