Anacrusis Definition

ănə-kro͝osĭs
noun
One or more unstressed syllables at the beginning of a line of verse, before the reckoning of the normal meter begins.
American Heritage
One or more additional, unaccented syllables at the beginning of a line of verse, preceding the regular meter.
Webster's New World
Webster's New World

(prosody) An unstressed syllable at the start of a verse.

Wiktionary

(music) An unstressed note or notes before the first strong beat (downbeat) of a phrase.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Anacrusis

Noun

Singular:
anacrusis
Plural:
anacruses

Origin of Anacrusis

  • New Latin anacrūsis from Greek anakrousis beginning of a tune from anakrouein to strike up a song ana- ana- krouein to push

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Modern Latin, from Ancient Greek ἀνάκρουσις (anakrousis, “pushing up”), from ἀνακρούω (anakrouō, “I push up”), from ἀνά (ana, “up”) + κρούω (krouō, “I strike”).

    From Wiktionary

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