Main Entry: an·a·pest

Pronunciation: \ˈa-nə-ˌpest\

Function: noun

Etymology: Latin anapaestus, from Greek anapaistos, literally, struck back (a dactyl reversed), from ana- + -paistos, verbal of paiein to strike

Date: circa 1678

: a metrical foot consisting of two short syllables followed by one long syllable or of two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable (as unaware)

— an·a·pes·tic \ˌa-nə-ˈpes-tik\ adjective or noun