anapest

1 of 3

noun (1)

an·​a·​pest ˈa-nə-ˌpest 

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

anapestic

ˌa-nə-ˈpe-stik 

adjective or noun

anapestic

2 of 3

adjective

an·​a·​pes·​tic

variants or anapaestic

¦a-nə-¦pe-stik 

especially British -¦pē-

: relating to or consisting of anapests

anapestically

¦a-nə-¦pe-sti-k(ə-)lē, 

especially British -¦pē-

adverb

anapestic

3 of 3

noun (2)

an·​a·​pes·​tic

variants or anapaestic

¦a-nə-¦pe-stik 

especially British -¦pē-

plural -s

: an anapestic foot or line

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Adjective

Late Latin anapaesticus, from Greek anapaistikos, from anapaistos + -ikos -ic

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1596, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1699, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1699, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

anapest

noun

an·​a·​pest ˈan-ə-ˌpest 

: a metrical foot consisting of two unaccented syllables followed by one accented syllable (as in the accused)

anapestic

ˌan-ə-ˈpes-tik 

adjective