✂️ A short line ✂️ Metrically incomplete

catalectic

1 9.9

A poetic line that is missing one or more syllables at the end

adjective
/ˌkætəˈlɛktɪk/

Literature

: cataléctico

In her analysis, she explained how catalectic verses give a unique character to the poetry they appear in.

Examples

The catalectic style is often overlooked!
The final line of the poem is catalectic, giving it an abrupt ending.
A catalectic verse can alter the overall flow and sound of a poem.
Many traditional hymns use catalectic lines to create a distinctive rhythm.
This line is catalectic.
The poet wrote a catalectic line, leaving the final syllable intentionally incomplete to enhance the rhythm.
Each catalectic verse in the poem created a sense of anticipation, as the final foot was consistently omitted.

Synonyms

catalecticant

vscatalectic

Literature

9.9

Missing the final syllable of a line of poetry

is the more common base adjective form rather than the derived descriptive form

Antonyms

acatalectic

Literature

9.9

A line of poetry that has the full number of beats the poem needs

Surface Forms

catalectic positive

Morphology

catalectic = catalect + ic

Although formed from a Greek combining form plus the productive English suffix '-ic', the combining form 'catalect-' is not a standalone English word and provides no clear cue to meaning for typical learners.

Etymology

Catalectic comes from Greek and means 'cut short' or 'left off', so when a verse is catalectic it sounds incomplete because it is missing one or more syllables at the end.