hemistich

American  

[hem-i-stik] / ˈhɛm ɪˌstɪk /

noun

Prosody.

1. the exact or approximate half of a stich, or poetic verse or line, especially as divided by a caesura or the like.

2. an incomplete line, or a line of less than the usual length.

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hemistich British  

/ ˈhɛmɪˌstɪk /

noun

1. prosody a half line of verse

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Other Word Forms

• hemistichal adjective

Etymology

Origin of hemistich

1565–75; < Late Latin hēmistichium < Greek hēmistíchion a half-verse. See hemi-, stich ¹

Example Sentences

The concluding hemistich, whereby the hokku becomes the tanka, is existent in the writer's mind, but never uttered.

From Japanese Prints by Lathrop, Dorothy Pulis

The two parts of the first hemistich of the verse correspond with each other; just as do the three parts of the second hemistich.

From Christology of the Old Testament: And a Commentary on the Messianic Predictions, Vol. 1 by Hengstenberg, Ernst Wilhelm

I have composed the first hemistich of a verse, but cannot finish it, although it has occupied my mind for some days.'

From A Boswell of Baghdad With Diversions by Lucas, E. V. (Edward Verrall)

A hemistich is missing here, in the MS., and a verb must be supplied; I adopt Grein's suggestion, lædde.

From Genesis A Translated from the Old English by Mason, Lawrence

"And what is this hemistich?" asked the chevalier, more and more astonished.

From The Conspirators The Chevalier d'Harmental by Dumas père, Alexandre