amphibrach

[ am-fuh-brak ]

noun

, Prosody.

1. a trisyllabic foot, the arrangement of the syllables of which is short, long, short in quantitative meter, or unstressed, stressed, unstressed in accentual meter. Thus, together is an accentual amphibrach.

amphibrach

/ ˈæmfɪˌbræk /

noun

1. See cretic
   prosody a metrical foot consisting of a long syllable between two short syllables ( ) Compare cretic

Derived Forms

• ˌamphiˈbrachic, adjective

Other Words From

• amphi·brachic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of amphibrach¹

1580–90; < Latin amphibrachus < Greek amphíbrachys short before and after ( amphi- amphi- + brachýs short); amphimacer

Word History and Origins

Origin of amphibrach¹

C16: from Latin, from Greek amphibrakhus, literally: both ends being short, from amphi- + brakhus short

Example Sentences

Similarly, such a word as alighted, in which a strong syllable is situated between two weak ones, may be called an 'amphibrach.'

From Project Gutenberg

The amphibrach plays a highly important part in English verse, though it is usual not to mention it at all.

From Project Gutenberg

The Amphibrach is a foot of three syllables, the first and third short, and the second long.

From Project Gutenberg

But these lines are of the high burlesque kind, and in this stile the Amphibrach closes lines with great beauty.

From Project Gutenberg

Similarly, the symbol means a trochee; and the symbol means an amphibrach.

From Project Gutenberg