amphibrach

[ am-fuh-brak ]

/ ˈæm fəˌbræk /

noun Prosody.

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.

Nearby words

amphibolic fistula, amphibolite, amphibology, amphibolous, amphiboly, amphibrach, amphicarpous, amphicelous, amphicentric, amphichroic, amphicoelous

Origin of amphibrach

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

Related forms

am·phi·brach·ic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for amphibrach

The Amphibrach is a foot of three syllables, the first and third short, and the second long.
Dissertation on the English Language|Noah Webster, Jr.
The amphibrach plays a highly important part in English verse, though it is usual not to mention it at all.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 6 (of 7) -- Introduction, Glossary, and Indexes|Geoffrey Chaucer
But these lines are of the high burlesque kind, and in this stile the Amphibrach closes lines with great beauty.
Dissertation on the English Language|Noah Webster, Jr.
Again, I should say, anapaestic—but this anapaest and amphibrach quarrel is ἄσπονδος.
The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge|Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Similarly, the symbol means a trochee; and the symbol means an amphibrach.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 6 (of 7) -- Introduction, Glossary, and Indexes|Geoffrey Chaucer

British Dictionary definitions for amphibrach

amphibrach

/ (ˈæmfɪˌbræk) /

noun

prosody a metrical foot consisting of a long syllable between two short syllables (◡ – ◡)Compare cretic

Derived Forms

amphibrachic, adjective

Word Origin for amphibrach

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012