choriambus

[ kawr-ee-am-buhs, kohr- ]

noun

, plural cho·ri·am·bi [kawr-ee-, am, -bahy, kohr-], cho·ri·am·bus·es.

1. choriamb.

Word History and Origins

Origin of choriambus¹

1840–50; < Late Latin < Greek choríambos, equivalent to chor ( eîos ) choric + íambos iamb

Example Sentences

There is no sufficient reason for speaking of the choriambus as occurring in Shakspere's verse, because where four syllables occur in such succession as to form a sort of choriambus, they will be found to fill the place of two ordinary feet, not of one; hence it would be irrational to combine them into one exceptional foot.

From Project Gutenberg

The choriambus is a verse-foot consisting of a trochee united with and preceding an iambus, -∪∪-.

From Project Gutenberg

The Greater Asclepiad was a term used for a line in which the wild music was prolonged by the introduction of a supplementary choriambus.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus, the three words marked above make a choriambus -- u u, or perhaps a pæon primus - u u u; a dactyl, by virtue of comic rapidity, being only equal to an iambus when distinctly pronounced.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus the three words marked above make a 'choriambus'—u u —, or perhaps a 'paeon primus'—u u u; a dactyl, by virtue of comic rapidity, being only equal to an iambus when distinctly pronounced.

From Project Gutenberg