Antibacchic

/ˌæntiˈbækɪk/ adjective

Definition

In poetry and meter, describing a metrical foot that is the opposite of a bacchius, or describing verse that opposes bacchic meter.

Etymology

From 'anti-' (opposite) + 'bacchic,' from Greek 'bakchios' (relating to Bacchus). Bacchic meter has a short syllable followed by two long syllables; antibacchic reverses this pattern.

Kelly Says

Only poetry nerds really care about antibacchic meter, but ancient poets were obsessed with these syllable patterns—it's like the original version of coding with rhythm!

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