spondee

noun

spon·​dee ˈspän-ˌdē 

: a metrical foot consisting of two long or stressed syllables

spondaic

spän-ˈdā-ik 

adjective or noun

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sponde, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French spondee, from Latin spondeum, from Greek spondeios, from spondeios of a libation, from spondē libation, from spendein to make a libation; from its use in music accompanying libations — more at spouse

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

spondee

noun

spon·​dee ˈspän-ˌdē 

: a metrical foot consisting of two accented syllables (as in tom-tom)

spondaic

spän-ˈdā-ik 

adjective