arsy-versy
/ɑːsɪˈvəːsi
/adjective & adverb informal
In a confused, disordered, or perversely contrary state or manner: [as adjective]: they got things all arsy-versy...
- This book presents waste as an aesthetic category that introduces an arsy-versy world where detritus is precious.
- I try to do it in a kind of arsy-versy way with my system of having an assistant director.
- The creator of these arsy-versy architectonic visions aims explicitly for ambiguity. ‘What fascinates me is how the photographic image can be manipulated.'
Origin
Mid 16th century: from arse + Latin versus 'turned', the addition of -y1 to both elements forming a jingle.
topsy-turvy from early 16th century:
Things have been topsy-turvy since at least 1528. The term is probably based on top and turve, an old word meaning ‘to topple over, overturn’; the extra -ys are similar to those in hurly-burly (M16th from ‘hurling’ meaning ‘commotion’) and arsy-versy (also M16th, from arse and Latin versus, ‘turned’).
Rhymes
- perspicacity
- perspicacy
- perspicience
- perspicuity
- perspicuous
- perspicuously
- perspicuousness
- perspirable
- perspirate
- perspirating
- perspiration
- perspiratory
- perspire
- perspiringly
- perspiry
- per stirpes
- perstringe
- persuadability
- persuadable
- persuade
- persuadedness
- persuader
- persuadingly
- persuasibility
- persuasible