Types of Chiasmus: Chiastic Definitions

All examples of chiasmus share the same distinctive structure-a reversal in word order that can be "marked with an X" (as described in Welcome to the World of Chiasmus.) However, there are a number of interesting variations on the chiastic theme. We'll examine all of them here at "Types of Chiasmus." In this edition, we take a look at Chiastic Definitions.

The dictionary defines definition as "a statement of the meaning or significance of a word." A good definition is fairly short and usually captures the principal features or ingredients of the thing being defined. For as long as definitions have been around, wits, wags, and wordsmiths have been composing witty or clever definitions. In the early 1900s, Ambrose Bierce published a book of sardonic definitions called The Devil's Dictionary. His book has become a classic in American literature and all true wordsmiths are familiar with it. One of his best entries was a wonderful example of chiasmus:

When I came across this definition nearly ten years ago, it became clear to me that chiasmus is a perfect device for creating quotable definitions. First of all, chiastic sayings have a special capacity to capture the essence of things, often in a very succinct way. And, secondly, chiastic creations can be extremely memorable, or unbelievably clever, which is a real bonus when constructing definitions. I vowed to stay on the lookout for more examples of what I began to call "Chiastic Definitions." It wasn't long before I found my next one:

I loved this saying from the first minute I discovered it, for it captures one of the most special and enduring qualities about that institution we call home. A friend told me a story that illustrates the point. Several years ago, a college friend of his, who'd become a high-level political advisor in the Clinton Administration, had spent an entire Saturday at the White House debating whether or not to send American troops to Bosnia. That evening he arrived home to discover that his wife and two children had barred him from any say in the movies they were going to rent for the weekend. Could any other saying capture this reality as beautifully?

As with the home quote, many of the best chiastic definitions come from anonymous sources:

Not surprisingly, comedians have been interested in chiastic definitions. Ed Wynn even used chiasmus to capture the essence of a comedian:

Other comedians have joined in the act, exploiting the potential of chiasmus to describe many other things in life:

Given their love of language and interest in wordplay, it's only natural that poets have tried their hand at chiastic definitions. In his 1821 A Defense of Poetry, Shelley used a wonderful chiasm in his famous definition of poetry:

And 150 years later, in 1971, W. H. Auden found chiasmus extremely helpful when trying to describe the essence of his craft:

Many intellectuals and philosophers have found a friend in chiasmus. In reflecting on the nature of progress, Alfred North Whitehead may not have crafted a "quotable definition" but he certainly constructed a "definitive quote" when he wrote:

Dr. Samuel Johnson, ever the curmudgeon and rational observer of human folly, got to the heart of the matter in his classic observation about matters of the heart:

And finally, Corita Kent, the American graphic artist and former nun, helped me see the women's movement in a totally new way when I first came upon her famous observation:

You could probably quibble with me and make the argument that not all the quotes in this section are true definitions. But, to my mind, they all meet the Oxford English Dictionary's definition of a definition: "stating exactly what a thing is, or what a word means." And, as we have seen, whether attempting a serious or a comic definition of a particular subject, chiasmus can come in very handy.

Implied Chiastic Definitions

Implied chiasmus is the reversal of an existing, often well-known, phrase. Two popular examples are Kermit the Frog saying, "Time's fun when you're having flies" and Ziggy saying, "The waist is a terrible thing to mind." Implied chiasmus is a type of chiasmus in its own right, but has also been used to craft some pretty memorable definitions, including one of my all-time favorites:

Like many other people, I first learned of this saying while I was in college, decades before I knew what the word chiasmus meant. It came back to me five or six years ago, and was one of the quotes that helped me come up with the concept of "implied chiasmus."

Many wonderful chiastic definitions have been crafted in this manner. You're probably familiar with this famous quote from the American economist Thorstein Veblen:

And perhaps you've heard of Danny Thomas's famous observation:

Or maybe even Alexander Woolcott's classic:

And who can forget Oscar Wilde's famous reversal of the old saying, "Drink is the curse of the working classes":

But one of my absolute favorites comes from the American movie director Billy Wilder, who once observed:

If this one is not clear to you, let me explain. In this observation, Wilder is suggesting that France reverses what is found in most other countries, where the toilet paper falls apart and you can't tear the money.

This brings to an end our examination of Chiastic Definitions. If you come across any examples in your reading or research, please send them along.