acatalectic
- adjective
- /ˌækəˈtælɛktɪk/
- Literature
- The poem is written in acatalectic verse, ensuring each line has the full number of syllables.
Examples
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His acatalectic lines flowed beautifully, adhering perfectly to the rhythmic meter of the poem.
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When the writer chose acatalectic forms, every syllable counted in creating a harmonious sound.
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The lines of encounter are acatalectic, "headless," with the first syllable of the iambs lopped off.
Academic text (2017)
Antonyms
How Long
Surface Forms
Morphology
acatalectic = catalectic (semi-transparent) = a + catalectic
The meaning is the straightforward opposite of 'catalectic', but the negative prefix 'a-' is a specialized classical form that many learners may not readily use productively.
Etymology
Acatalectic is built from the Greek prefix a- meaning 'not' and catalectic, a word for a line that 'falls short', and so acatalectic means 'not short'—a line of poetry that has the full number of syllables and keeps the correct rhythm.