amphibrach

From Latin amphibrachys, from Ancient Greek ἀμφίβραχυς (amphíbrakhus, “short at both ends”), from ἀμφί (amphí) + βραχύς (brakhús, “short”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈam.fɪ.bɹak/

amphibrach (plural amphibrachs)

1. (prosody) A metrical foot in ancient Greek or Latin consisting of two short syllables surrounding one long one (e.g. amāta).
2. (prosody) A metrical foot in modern prosody, consisting of three syllables, the middle one of which is stressed (e.g. Jamaica).
   • 1969, Vladimir Nabokov, Ada or Ardor, Penguin 2011, page 322:

     Then Banoffsky launched into Glinka's great amphibrachs [...]: Subside, agitation of passion!

• amphibrachic