ictus

American  

[ik-tuhs] / ˈɪk təs /

noun

plural

ictuses, ictus

1. Prosody. rhythmical or metrical stress.

2. Pathology.

   1. an epileptic seizure.

   2. a stroke, especially a cerebrovascular accident.

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ictus British  

/ ˈɪktəs /

noun

1. prosody metrical or rhythmic stress in verse feet, as contrasted with the stress accent on words

2. med a sudden attack or stroke

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Other Word Forms

• ictal
  adjective
• ictic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of ictus

1700–10; < Latin: stroke, thrust, equivalent to īc ( ere ) to strike with a weapon + -tus suffix of v. action

Example Sentences

The translator shows his good judgment when he retains the original strophe, the characteristic last half-verse with its four ictus included.

From On the Heights A Novel by Auerbach, Berthold

These are his words; "In Catilianis prodigiis, Pompeiano ex municipio M. Herennius Decurio serena die, fulmine ictus est."

From Observations on Mount Vesuvius, Mount Etna, and Other Volcanos by Hamilton, William

In the case of syllables on which the ictus does not fall the quantity and accent are indifferent.

From The History of Roman Literature From the earliest period to the death of Marcus Aurelius by Cruttwell, Charles Thomas

The conclusion is that "ictus in conflict requires a pitch-accent."

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

Latterly, the underlying metrical ictus is at times hard to detect.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 6 "English Language" to "Epsom Salts" by Various