An introduction to the study of medieval Latin versification

Glossary of Terms

A GLOSSARY OF TERMS Abecedarian. An acrostic poem in which the first letters of each strophe or of each verse reproduce the alphabet. Acrostic. A poem in which the first letters of each verse or strophe form a word or words. See also abecedarian, mesostich, telestich. Adonic. A dactyl followed by a spondee. See p. . Adonic hexameter. A rare hymnic meter in which each dactylic hexameter is composed of three Adonics, with all three spondees in each verse rhyming. See p. . Anacrusis. The placement of one or more syllables at the beginning of a verse before the normal verse pattern begins (in Norberg, mesure d’attaque, lit.“measure of attack” cp. Fr. attaque, the “striking up” of music). Aphaeresis. Also known as prodelision. The suppression of the initial vowel of a word when this word is preceded by a word which ends in a vowel. Compare elision . Bucolic (diaeresis). A diaeresis after the fourth foot in a dactylic hexameter, especially common in pastoral (bucolic) poetry. See diaeresis, , below. Caesura. A break within a metron or foot where word ending is demanded or recommended. Cento. A composition made up of quotations from other authors. Diaeresis. () the division of one syllable into two, especially by resolution of a diphthong into two simple vowels (also the sign above a vowel to indicate this phenomenon ), see chapter ; () the place in a verse where a word ending is demanded or recommended to coincide with the end of a metrical unit (Gr.“taking apart”). Dipody. Two feet which together make a single metron (Gr.“two-footer”). Elision. The omission of a sound, or, specifically, the omission of a final vowel or  a vowel with -m in one word before an initial vowel or an initial h- followed by a vowel in another (from Lat. elidere “to crush out”). Compare aphaeresis. Epanalepsis. The repetition at the end of a line, sentence, or strophe of the word or phrase with which it began (Gr.“resumption, repetition”). Hephthemimer. The first part of a hexameter line preceding the caesura when this caesura occurs in the middle of the fourth foot (Gr. “consisting of seven halves,” that is, seven half feet). Compare penthemimer, trihemimeris. Hiatus. A break between two vowels or diphthongs which come together without an intervening consonant in successive words or syllables (Lat.“gap”). Ictus. Meter may be understood as a pattern of marked and unmarked positions . The term ictus designates the marked position, particularly in classical Greek and Latin poetry. Which positions would have been so marked in Latin is controversial , as is how they would have been marked (in accent, pitch, length or duration , or a combination of the foregoing (Lat.“blow, stroke”). Leonine hexameter. A dactylic hexameter with internal rhyme between a word just before the strong caesura and a word at the end of the line (the name is derived from the prose rhythm associated with Pope Leo I). Mesostich. A poem in which letters in the middle of the lines are used to spell a word or words. Oxytone. A word with an accent on the last syllable (Gr. “sharp-toned”). Compare paroxytone, proparoxytone. Paromœon. Sustained alliteration in which a series of two or more words— sometimes every word in a phrase or sentence—begins with the same letter (Gr. “closely resembling”). Paroxytone. A word with an accent on the penultimate syllable. Compare oxytone , proparoxytone. Penthemimer. The first part of a hexameter line preceding the caesura when this caesura occurs in the middle of the third foot (Gr. “consisting of five halves,” that is, five half feet). Compare hephthemimer, trihemimeris. Proparoxytone. A word with an accent on the antepenultimate syllable. Compare oxytone, paroxytone. Prosthesis. The addition of a letter or syllable at the beginning of a word (Gr. pros- “toward, in addition” + thesis “putting”). Syllaba anceps. A place in a metrical scheme which can be occupied by a long or short syllable (Lat.“two-headed syllable”).  / Glossary of Terms Synaeresis. The contraction of two or more adjacent syllables into one, especially the contraction of two vowels within a single word into a diphthong or a simple vowel (Gr.“drawing together, contraction”). Syncope. The shortening of a word by omission of one or more syllables in the middle (Gr.“together” + “cutting”). Telestich. A short poem in which the final letters of the lines, taken in order, spell a word or words. Tmesis. The separation of the elements of a word by...