hypercatalectic

[ hahy-per-kat-l-ek-tik ]

adjective

, Prosody.

1. (of a line of verse) containing an additional syllable after the last dipody or foot. Compare acatalectic ( def 2 ), catalectic.

hypercatalectic

/ ˌhaɪpəˌkætəˈlɛktɪk /

adjective

1. prosody (of a line of verse) having extra syllables after the last foot

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypercatalectic¹

1695–1705; < Late Latin hypercatalēcticus, equivalent to Greek hyperkatálēkt ( os ) + Latin -icus -ic; hyper-, catalectic

Example Sentences

French Alexandrines are arranged in couplets, alternately acatalectic with masculine rhymes, and hypercatalectic with feminine rhymes.

From Project Gutenberg

The normal line of which these quatrains are composed is a thirteen-syllabled one divided by a central pause, so that the first half is an iambic dimeter catalectic, and the second an iambic dimeter hypercatalectic.

From Project Gutenberg

The rhythm of the lines is marked, the effect upon the ear being quite like that of English iambic pentameters hypercatalectic.

From Project Gutenberg

Knowing this, we can detect the hypercatalectic and catalectic lines.

From Project Gutenberg