arsis

ar·sis

noun \ˈär-səs\

plural ar·ses\-ˌsēz\

Definition of ARSIS

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

Origin of ARSIS

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

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with ARSIS

tarsus, Tarsus