scansion
(ˈskænʃən)
[ad. L. scansiōn-em, n. of action f. scandĕre to climb, scan. Cf. F. scansion (G. scansion), It. scansione.]
† 1. The action of climbing up. Obs. rare—1.
| 1654 Z. Coke Logick 200 Ascension is the scansion or moving from an inferior place to a superior. |
2. Pros. The action or the art of scanning verse; the division of verse into metrical feet; also, an example of this.
| 1671 in Phillips. 1779 Lowth in Serm. & Rem. (1834) 387 The author..only intended, that we should give him credit awhile for the truth of his scansion. a 1849 Poe Rationale of Verse Wks. 1864 II. 249 The object of what we call scansion is the distinct marking of the rhythmical flow. 1874 Symonds in Fortn. Rev. Dec. 772 In this prosody [of blank verse] scansion by time takes the place of scansion by metrical feet. 1894 Sala London up to Date ii. 30 He is an amiable poet..and does not bite, unless the accuracy of his scansion be impeached. 1900 Skeat Chaucer Canon §37 Chaucer has certain peculiarities of grammar, upon which the scansion of his lines largely depends. |