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arsis

noun
ar·​sis | \ ˈär-səs How to pronounce arsis (audio) \
plural arses\ -​ˌsēz How to pronounce arses (audio) \

Definition of arsis

1a : 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

First Known Use of arsis

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for 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

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The first known use of arsis was in the 14th century

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