First Known Use: 1830
Dictionary
anacrusis
noun an·a·cru·sis \ˌa-nə-ˈkrü-səs\
plural an·a·cru·ses\-ˌsēz\
Definition of ANACRUSIS
1
: one or more syllables at the beginning of a line of poetry that are regarded as preliminary to and not a part of the metrical pattern
2
: upbeat; specifically : one or more notes or tones preceding the first downbeat of a musical phrase
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Origin of ANACRUSIS
New Latin, from Greek anakrousis beginning of a song, from anakrouein to begin a song, from ana- + krouein to strike, beat; akin to Lithuanian kraušyti to strike
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