septenarius

[ sep-tuh-nair-ee-uhs ]

noun

, Prosody.

, plural sep·te·nar·i·i [sep-t, uh, -, nair, -ee-ahy].

1. a verse consisting of seven feet, usually printed in two lines: used especially in Latin poems.

Word History and Origins

Origin of septenarius¹

1810–20; < Latin septēnārius ( septenary )

Example Sentences

In various modified forms, the septenarius was a favourite measure throughout the Middle English period.

From Project Gutenberg

Orm adopted the unrimed septenarius from Latin, but counted his syllables so faithfully as to produce an intolerable monotony.

From Project Gutenberg

The trochaic septenarius, also a common metre in the drama, consists of seven trochees and an additional long syllable.

From Project Gutenberg

"Septenarius numerus est numerus universitatis," says J. de Voragine.

From Project Gutenberg