spondee

[ spon-dee ]

noun

, Prosody.

1. a foot of two syllables, both of which are long in quantitative meter or stressed in accentual meter. : 

spondee

/ ˈspɒndiː /

noun

1. prosody a metrical foot consisting of two long syllables ( )

Word History and Origins

Origin of spondee¹

1350–1400; Middle English sponde < Latin spondēus < Greek spondeîos, derivative of spondḗ libation

Word History and Origins

Origin of spondee¹

C14: from Old French spondée, from Latin spondēus, from Greek spondeios, from spondē a ritual libation; from the use of spondee in the music that characteristically accompanied such ceremonies

Example Sentences

Now the medium of these is about fourteen syllables; because the dactyle is a more frequent foot in hexameters than the spondee.

From Project Gutenberg

The spondee is found in solemn hymns or in any verse expressing reverence and awe.

From Project Gutenberg

A spondee is a foot of two equally accented syllables; as, mainspring, sea-maid.

From Project Gutenberg

The Spondee, a foot of two long syllables, when admitted into the Iambic measure, adds much to the solemnity of the movement.

From Project Gutenberg

A true spondee must be made by voicing two syllables in equal time, and each without stress.

From Project Gutenberg