ictus

[ ik-tuhs ]

noun

, plural ic·tus·es, ic·tus.

1. Prosody. rhythmical or metrical stress.
2. Pathology.
   1. an epileptic seizure.
   2. a stroke, especially a cerebrovascular accident.

ictus

/ ˈɪktəs /

noun

1. prosody metrical or rhythmic stress in verse feet, as contrasted with the stress accent on words
2. med a sudden attack or stroke

Derived Forms

• ˈictal, adjective

Other Words From

• ictic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ictus¹

1700–10; < Latin: stroke, thrust, equivalent to īc ( ere ) to strike with a weapon + -tus suffix of v. action

Word History and Origins

Origin of ictus¹

C18: from Latin icere to strike

Example Sentences

The points which seem to mark the ictus, or rhythmical accent, are found on the first syllable of each of these two feet.

From Project Gutenberg

The metrical accent or ictus was marked in ancient notation by points placed over the accented syllable.

From Project Gutenberg

Havena I missed the chance to turn out as clarissimus an ictus, as auld Grunwiggin himself?

From Project Gutenberg

O, you mean juris-consultus—Ictus is an abbreviation for juris-consultus.

From Project Gutenberg

Latterly, the underlying metrical ictus is at times hard to detect.

From Project Gutenberg