‖ anacrusis Pros.
(ænəˈkruːsɪs)
[L. translit. of Gr. ἀνάκρουσις, f. ἀνακρού-ειν, f. ἀνά up + κρού-ειν to strike.]
‘A syllable at the beginning of a verse before the just rhythm’ (Kennedy).
| 1833 Edin. Rev. LVI. 372 The Iambus..in technical language is said to consist of anacrusis and arsis. 1844 Beck & Felton Munk's Metres 8 A thesis with which a rhythm begins is called anacrusis, or ‘an upward beat.’ |