the act whereby anything is inverted or turned backwards. Problems in geometry and arithmetic are often proved by inversion; that is, by a contrary rule or operation.

in Grammar, is where the words of a phrase are ranged in a manner not so natural as they might be. For instance: "Of all vices, the most abominable, and that which least becomes a man, is impurity." Here is an inversion; the natural order being this: Impurity is the most abominable of all vices, and that which least becomes a man.—An inversion is not always disagreeable, but sometimes has a good effect.

INVITED, in Music, is derived from the Latin preposition in, and vertere, "to turn any thing a contrary way."

It signifies a change in the order of the notes which form a chord, or in the parts which compose harmony; which happens by substituting in the bass, those sounds which ought to have been in the upper part; an operation not only rendered practicable, but greatly facilitated by the resemblance which one note has to another in different octaves; whence we derive the power of exchanging one octave for another with so much propriety and success, or by substituting in the extremes those which ought to have occupied the middle station; and vice versa. See Music.