Archilochian

1 of 2

adjective

Ar·​chi·​lo·​chi·​an

¦ärkə̇¦lōkēən

1

a

: of or relating to Archilochus

b

: trenchant, sarcastic, bitter

2

: marked by use of Archilochians or of Archilochian strophes

Archilochian

2 of 2

noun

"

plural -s

: a verse form ascribed to Archilochus: such as

a

: a line composed of a dactylic tetrapody followed by a trochaic tripody

called also greater Archilochian

b

: a dactylic tripody catalectic

—sometimes called also lesser Archilochian

c

: a dactylic tetrapody with spondee or trochee as the fourth foot

d

: a dicolon composed of a complete prosodiac followed by an ithyphallic

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Archilochus, 7th century b.c. Greek poet (from Latin, from Greek Archilochos) + English -ian

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