Arsis Definition

ärsĭs
arses
noun
The short or unaccented part of a metrical foot, especially in quantitative verse.
American Heritage
In classical Greek poetry, the short syllable or syllables of a foot.
Webster's New World
The accented or long part of a metrical foot, especially in accentual verse.
American Heritage
In later poetry, the long or accented syllable of a foot.
Webster's New World
The upbeat or unaccented part of a measure.
American Heritage

Other Word Forms of Arsis

Noun

Singular:
arsis
Plural:
arses

Origin of Arsis

  • Middle English raising of the voice from Late Latin raising of the voice, accented part of a metrical foot from Greek raising of the foot (marking the upbeat), the unaccented part of a metrical foot from aeirein to lift wer-1 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Latin Arsis, from Ancient Greek ἄρσις (Arsis, “elevation”)

    From Wiktionary

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