Main Entry: ar·sis

Pronunciation: \ˈär-səs\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural ar·ses \-ˌsēz\

Etymology: Late Latin & Greek; Late Latin, raising of the voice, accented part of foot, from Greek, upbeat, less important part of foot, literally, act of lifting, from aeirein, airein to lift

Date: 14th century

1 a : the lighter or shorter part of a poetic foot especially in quantitative verse b : the accented or longer part of a poetic foot especially in accentual verse
2 : the unaccented part of a musical measure — compare thesis