▪ I. metaphrase, n.
(ˈmɛtəfreɪz)
[ad. mod.L. metaphrasis, ad. Gr. µετάϕρασις, n. of action from µεταϕράζειν to translate, paraphrase: see meta- and phrase n. Cf. F. métaphrase.]
† 1. A metrical translation. Obs.
| 1627 Bp. Hall Dauids Ps. Metaphr. Ded., Apollinarius..wrote..all the Hebrew scriptures in Heroicks;..his metaphrase of the Psalmes is still in our hands. 1631 in Bannatyne Club Misc. I. 245 The receaving of this new metaphrase, and rejecting of the old, sall geve occasion to foranners to call us light headed Scots. 1767 Harte Amaranth Pref., A paraphrase (or metaphrase rather) of the xxviiith chapter of Deuteronomy; which, I believe, hath never yet been turned into English verse. |
2. A rendering into other words; a translation; in later use, a word-for-word translation in contradistinction to a paraphrase.
| 1640 Shirley Hum. Courtier iv. i. G 1 b, Orseolo. What does she thinke? Lau. Y'are insufficient. Or. How? a metophrase [sic] upon that word. a 1646 J. Gregory Posthuma (1650) 224 Where the English Metaphrase readeth, Thou shalt accept [etc.]... The Hebrew saith, Thou shalt consume, &c. 1680 Dryden tr. Ovid's Ep. Pref., Ess. (ed. Ker) I. 237 Metaphrase, or turning an author word by word, and line by line, from one language into another. 1697 ― tr. Virg. æneid Ded. (e) 4 b, The way I have taken is not so streight as Metaphrase, nor so loose as Paraphrase. 1823 De Quincey Lett. to Yng. Man Wks. XIV. 84 note, It is too much of a mere metaphrase of Kant. 1903 W. R. Roberts in Class. Rev. XVII. 131/2 Metaphrase can hardly be made to do duty for paraphrase. |
| fig. 1822 Lamb Elia Ser. i. Some Old Actors, Such playful selections and specious combinations rather than strict metaphrases of nature. |
▪ II. metaphrase, v.
(ˈmɛtəfreɪz)
[f. prec. n.: but cf. Gr. µεταϕράζειν.]
† 1. trans. To translate, esp. in verse. Obs.
| 1608 Bp. Hall in Sylvester's Du Bartas To Author, To Mr Iosuah Syluester, of his Bartas Metaphrased. 1633 Fletcher Poet. Misc. 86 Certain of the royal Prophets Psalmes metaphrased. 1649 T. W[eaver] (title) Plantagenets Tragicall Story: or the Death of King Edward the Fourth... Metaphrased by T. W. gent. |
2. To alter the phrasing or language of; to render into other words.
| 1868 Contemp. Rev. IX. 294 He [Simeon Metaphrastes] did not in all cases assemble materials in their original shape, but often ‘metaphrased’ or manipulated them in such a way as to deprive the mass of all value. 1883 Scrivener Introd. Crit. N.T. 508 He too [Clement of Alexandria] complains of those who tamper with (or metaphrase) the Gospels for their own sinister ends. |
Hence ˈmetaphrasing vbl. n.
| 1631 in Bannatyne Club Misc. I. 237, I have not as zit..considdered what libertie they have takin in the metaphrasing to add, insert, or degresse. |