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

The Hebrew form of the word, however, is not quite the same, the Assyrian feminine ending being absent.

From The Old Testament In the Light of The Historical Records and Legends of Assyria and Babylonia by Pinches, Theophilus Goldridge

On this account some speak of three accents in the first half line, with a feminine ending.

From The Nibelungenlied by Shumway, Daniel Bussier

In the second stanza we have the same measure with feminine ending.

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

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