anapest

/ˈæ.nə.piːst/

Æ · nə · piːst (3 syllables)

English Noun

Definition

In qualitative meter, a metrical foot consisting of three syllables, the first two unstressed and the last one stressed.

Etymology

From Latin anapaestus, from Ancient Greek ἀνάπαιστος (anápaistos, “struck back, reversed [relative to dactyl]”), from ἀνά (aná, “back”) + παίω (paíō, “I strike”).