Alcaic

[æl'keiik]

Definition

(noun.) verse in the meter used in Greek and Latin poetry consisting of strophes of 4 tetrametric lines; reputedly invented by Alcaeus.

Checked by Casey--From WordNet

Definition

(a.) Pertaining to Alcaeus, a lyric poet of Mitylene, about 6000 b. c.

(n.) A kind of verse, so called from Alcaeus. One variety consists of five feet, a spondee or iambic, an iambic, a long syllable, and two dactyls.

Editor: Trudy

Definition

adj. of or pertaining to the Greek lyrical poet Alc鎢s (c. 600 B.C.) or to the kind of verse invented by him. The most common form consists of an anacrusis a trochee a spondee and two dactyls; a second of a catalectic iambic pentameter the third foot always being a spondee; a third of two dactyls followed by two trochees. The most common arrangement was two lines of (1) followed by one of (2) and one of (3). Cf. Tennyson's 'O mighty-mouth'd inventor of harmonies.'

Editor: Rochelle