Alcaic

[ al-key-ik ]

adjective

1. pertaining to Alcaeus or to certain meters or a form of strophe or stanza used by, or named after, him.

noun

1. Alcaics, Alcaic verses or strophes.

Alcaic

/ ælˈkeɪɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to a metre used by the 7th-century bc Greek lyric poet Alcaeus, consisting of a strophe of four lines each with four feet

noun

1. usually plural verse written in the Alcaic form

Word History and Origins

Origin of Alcaic¹

1620–30; < Late Latin Alcaicus < Greek Alkaïkós, equivalent to Alka ( îos ) Alcaeus + -ikos -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of Alcaic¹

C17: from Late Latin Alcaicus of Alcaeus

Example Sentences

Thus his great metre, the Alcaic, has a character of stateliness and majesty in addition to the energy and impetus originally imparted to it by Alcaeus.

From Project Gutenberg

He went on to speak of his “Experiments in Quantity,” and in particular of the Alcaic Ode to Milton, beginning: O mighty-mouth’d inventor of harmonies.

From Project Gutenberg

The 120th Psalm is in Alcaics, and, I think, very successful, considering the difficulty of the metre.

From Project Gutenberg

Even Alcaics, unceremoniously handled by a shifting of the accent, which is violent disregard of quantity, yield like results.

From Project Gutenberg

And let me acknowledge that these contentions are perfectly true; just as it is perfectly true that fur coats are much warmer than Alcaics.

From Project Gutenberg