tetrastich

[ te-truh-stik, te-tras-tik ]

noun

, Prosody.

1. a strophe, stanza, or poem consisting of four lines.

tetrastich

/ ˈtɛtrəˌstɪk; tɛˈtræstɪkəl; ˌtɛtrəˈstɪkɪk /

noun

1. a poem, stanza, or strophe that consists of four lines

Derived Forms

• tetrastichic, adjective

Other Words From

• tet·ra·stich·ic [te-tr, uh, -, stik, -ik], te·tras·ti·chal [ti-, tras, -ti-k, uh, l], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tetrastich¹

1570–80; < Latin tetrastichon < Greek tetrástichon, noun use of neuter of tetrástichos. See tetrastichous

Word History and Origins

Origin of tetrastich¹

C16: via Latin from Greek tetrastikhon, from tetra- + stikhos row

Example Sentences

At Rome, Selvaggi made a Latin distich in honour of Milton, and Salsilli a Latin tetrastich, celebrating him for his Greek, Latin, and Italian poetry; and he in return presented to Salsilli in his sickness those fine Scazons or Iambic verses having a spondee in the last foot, which are inserted among his juvenile poems.

From Project Gutenberg

Tetrastich, tet′ra-stik, n. a stanza, &c., of four lines, a quartet.—adjs.

From Project Gutenberg

Goodyer’s epitaph is quoted by Camden in the Remaines concerning Britain: “To the honour of Sir Henry Goodyer of Powlesworth, a Knight memorable for his vertues, an affectionate Friend of his framed this Tetrastich: ‘An ill year of a Goodyer us bereft, Who gone to God, much lack of him here left: Full of good gifts, of body and of mind, Wise, comely, learned, eloquent and kind.’”

From Project Gutenberg

And I now renew this great Sheet, because in returning to old Hafiz two or three days ago, I happened on a line which you will confer with a Tetrastich of Omar’s.

From Project Gutenberg

What I have said in the foregoing tetrastich is thus translated out of the Lanternish tongue into our vulgar dialect: All miseries attended me, whilst I A lover was, and had no good thereby.

From Project Gutenberg