Met"a*phrase (?), n. [Gr. meta`frasis, from metafrazein to paraphrase; meta` beyond, over + fra`zein to speak: cf. F. m'etaphrase.]
1.
A verbal translation; a version or translation from one language into another, word for word; -- opposed to paraphrase.
Dryden.
2.
An answering phrase; repartee.
Mrs. Browning.
© Webster 1913.