anacrusis

American  

[an-uh-kroo-sis] / ˌæn əˈkru sɪs /

noun

anacruses plural

1. Prosody. an unstressed syllable or syllable group that begins a line of verse but is not counted as part of the first foot.

2. Music. the note or notes preceding a downbeat; upbeat.

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anacrusis British  

/ ˌænəˈkrʌstɪk, ˌænəˈkruːsɪs /

noun

1. prosody one or more unstressed syllables at the beginning of a line of verse

2. music

   1. an unstressed note or group of notes immediately preceding the strong first beat of the first bar

   2. another word for upbeat

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• anacrustic
  adjective
• anacrustically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

noun

• anacruses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of anacrusis

1825–35; < Latin < Greek anákrousis, equivalent to anakroú(ein ) to strike up, push back ( ana- ana- + kroúein to strike, push) + -sis -sis

Example Sentences

Similar combinations, still freer, with frequent anacrusis as well, are characteristic of Swinburne's Hesperia; e. g.—

From The Principles of English Versification by Baum, Paull Franklin

This is couched in alternate three and five accent iambics, preparing a delicious rhythmic effect when the metre changes, in the invocation, to the octosyllable, with or without anacrusis.

From Minor Poems by Milton by Milton, John

Here we have anacrusis in lines 2 and 4.

From English Verse Specimens Illustrating its Principles and History by Alden, Raymond MacDonald

The four stresses of the Anglo-Saxon verse are retained, and as much thesis and anacrusis is allowed as is consistent with a regular cadence.

From Beowulf An Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem by Hall, Lesslie

In line 2 is an instance of anacrusis.

From English Verse Specimens Illustrating its Principles and History by Alden, Raymond MacDonald