amphibrachic

English

Etymology

From amphibrach +‎ -ic. From Latin amphibrachicus.

Adjective

amphibrachic (not comparable)

1. Consisting of amphibrachs, metrical feet consisting of either a long syllable between two that are short, or an accented syllable between two that are not accented.
   • 1851, Goold Brown, The Grammar of English Grammars‎^[1], 6th edition:

     Father Humphrey says, "Anapaestic and amphibrachic verse, being similar in measure and movement, are pleasing to the ear, and well adapted to cheerful and humourous^[sic] compositions; and sometimes to elegiac compositions, and subjects important and solemn."

   • 1988 December 23, Albert Williams, “Melissa, While She Sleeps”, in Chicago Reader‎^[2]:

     […] she will grow up to have long hair, a knack for the violin, an anonymous male admirer who writes her love poetry in amphibrachic tetrameter, and a son who dies in battle […] .

Derived terms

• amphibrachically

 

Translations

consisting of amphibrachs

• Esperanto: amfibraĥa
• Polish: amfibrachiczny (pl)
• Portuguese: anfíbraco, anfibráquico