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catalectic

 - 2 dictionary results

cat⋅a⋅lec⋅tic

  [kat-l-ek-tik] Prosody
Use catalectic in a Sentence
–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; < LL catalēcticus < Gk katalēktikós incomplete, equiv. to katalēk-, var. s. of katalgein to leave off (kata- cata- + lgein to end) + -tikos -tic
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To catalectic
cat·a·lec·tic   (kāt'l-ěk'tĭk)   
adj.  Lacking one or more syllables, especially in the final foot. Used of verse.

[Late Latin catalēcticus, from Greek katalēktikos, from katalēgein, to leave off : kata-, intensive pref.; see cata- + lēgein, to cease, terminate; see slēg- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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