hypercatalectic

[hahy-per-kat-l-ek-tik]

adjective

Prosody.

1. (of a line of verse) containing an additional syllable after the last dipody or foot.

hypercatalectic

/ ˌhaɪpəˌkætəˈlɛktɪk /

adjective

1. prosody (of a line of verse) having extra syllables after the last foot

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypercatalectic¹

1695–1705; < Late Latin hypercatalēcticus, equivalent to Greek hyperkatálēkt ( os ) + Latin -icus -ic; hyper-, catalectic

Example Sentences

French Alexandrines are arranged in couplets, alternately acatalectic with masculine rhymes, and hypercatalectic with feminine rhymes.

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The normal line of which these quatrains are composed is a thirteen-syllabled one divided by a central pause, so that the first half is an iambic dimeter catalectic, and the second an iambic dimeter hypercatalectic.

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The rhythm of the lines is marked, the effect upon the ear being quite like that of English iambic pentameters hypercatalectic.

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Knowing this, we can detect the hypercatalectic and catalectic lines.

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