\Met"a*phrase\, n. [Gr. meta`frasis, from metafrazein
to paraphrase; meta` beyond, over + fra`zein to speak: cf. F.
m['e]taphrase.]
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.