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iambic

 - 3 dictionary results

i⋅am⋅bic

  [ahy-am-bik]
–adjective
1. Prosody.
a. pertaining to the iamb.
b. consisting of or employing an iamb or iambs.
2. Greek Literature. noting or pertaining to satirical poetry written in iambs.
–noun
3. Prosody.
a. an iamb.
b. Usually, iambics. a verse or poem consisting of iambs.
4. Greek Literature. a satirical poem in this meter.
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Origin:
1565–75; < L iambicus < Gk iambikós. See iambus, -ic

Related forms:
i⋅am⋅bi⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To iambic
i·am·bic   (ī-ām'bĭk)   
adj.  Consisting of iambs or characterized by their predominance: iambic pentameter.
n.  

  1. An iamb.

  2. A verse, stanza, or poem written in iambs. Often used in the plural.

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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Word Origin & History

iambic 
1575, from L. iambicus, from Gk. iambikos, from iambos "metrical foot of one unaccented followed by one accented syllable," from iaptein "to assail" (in words); the meter of invective and lampoon in classical Gk. from the time it was used for such by Archilochos, 7c. B.C.E.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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