hendecasyllabic

1 of 2

adjective

hen·​deca·​syl·​lab·​ic (ˌ)hen-ˌde-kə-sə-ˈla-bik 

: consisting of 11 syllables or composed of verses of 11 syllables

hendecasyllabic noun

hendecasyllable

hen-ˈde-kə-ˌsi-lə-bəl 

(ˌ)hen-ˌde-kə-ˈsi-

noun

hendecasyllable

2 of 2

noun

hen·​deca·​syllable henˈdekə+ˌ- 

(ˌ)henˌdekə+ˈ-

: a line of eleven syllables

the hendecasyllable is the principal verse in Italian poetry

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin hendecasyllabus, from Greek hendeka eleven (from hen-, heis one + deka ten) + syllabē syllable — more at same, ten

Noun

modification (influenced by syllable) of Latin hendecasyllabus, from Greek hendeka eleven + syllabē syllable

First Known Use

Adjective

1704, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hendecasyllabic

• disyllabic
• monosyllabic
• polysyllabic
• syllabic