hemistich

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An approximate half-line of verse, separated from another by a caesura, often for dramatic effect.
  2. An unfinished line of verse.

Word forms

hemistich hemistichs hemistiches

Etymology

From French hémistiche, from Latin hēmistichium, from Ancient Greek ἡμιστίχιον (hēmistíkhion), from ἡμι- (hēmi-, “half”) + στίχος (stíkhos, “verse”).

Derived words

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