adjective 1.(of a
line of verse) lacking part of the last foot; metrically incomplete, as the second line of
One more unfortunate,/Weary of breath.
noun 2.a catalectic line of verse.
Origin: 1580–90; <
Late Latin catalēcticus <
Greek katalēktikós incomplete, equivalent to
katalēk-, variant stem of
katalḗgein to leave off (
kata- cata- +
lḗgein to end) +
-tikos -tic