hemistich

noun

hemi·​stich ˈhe-mi-ˌstik How to pronounce hemistich (audio)
: half a poetic line of verse usually divided by a caesura

Word History

Etymology

Latin hemistichium, from Greek hēmistichion, from hēmi- + stichos line, verse; akin to Greek steichein to go — more at stair

First Known Use

1575, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hemistich was in 1575

Dictionary Entries Near hemistich

hemispheroid

hemistich

hemistichal

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Hemistich.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hemistich. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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