feminine ending

American  

noun

1. Prosody. an unaccented syllable at the close of a line of poetry, often one that is added to the metrical pattern as an extra syllable.

2. Grammar. a termination or final syllable marking a feminine word: In Latin -ā is a feminine ending for the ablative case in the singular.

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feminine ending British  

noun

1. prosody an unstressed syllable at the end of a line of verse

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Etymology

Origin of feminine ending

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

This last stress, however, is not, as a rule as strong as the others, the effect being somewhat like that of a feminine ending.

From The Nibelungenlied by Shumway, Daniel Bussier

In the latter case, however, the first light syllable of line 5 is really supplied by the syllable added to make the feminine ending of line 4.

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

On the other hand, if the last stressed syllable of the line is followed by an unstressed one, the two together are called a feminine ending.

From An Introduction to Shakespeare by MacCracken, H. N.

A simple check-mark in the sixth or seventh column indicates respectively a case of enjambement or of feminine ending.

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

In the third place, the line may have a feminine ending.

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