Arsis

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Arsis \Ar"sis\ ([aum]r"s[i^]s), n. [L. arsis, Gr. 'a`rsis a
     raising or lifting, an elevation of the voice, fr. a'i`rein
     to raise or lift up. Its ordinary use is the result of am
     early misapprehension; originally and properly it denotes the
     lifting of the hand in beating time, and hence the unaccented
     part of the rhythm.]


     1. (Pros.)
        (a) That part of a foot where the ictus is put, or which
            is distinguished from the rest (known as the thesis)
            of the foot by a greater stress of voice. --Hermann.
        (b) That elevation of voice now called {metrical
            accentuation}, or the rhythmic accent.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: It is uncertain whether the arsis originally consisted
           in a higher musical tone, greater volume, or longer
           duration of sound, or in all combined.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Mus.) The elevation of the hand, or that part of the bar
        at which it is raised, in beating time; the weak or
        unaccented part of the bar; -- opposed to {thesis}.
        --Moore.
        [1913 Webster]