Anacrusis
/anəˈkɹuːsɪs/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An unstressed syllable at the start of a verse.
- 2 An unstressed note or notes before the first strong beat (or downbeat) of a phrase.
"Then Etheridge poised his baton, jerked an upbeat, and made the violinists speak the low G and A of their anacrusis."
Example
More examples"Then Etheridge poised his baton, jerked an upbeat, and made the violinists speak the low G and A of their anacrusis."
Etymology
Via New Latin from Ancient Greek ἀνάκρουσις (anákrousis, “pushing up”), from ἀνακρούω (anakroúō, “I push up”), from ἀνά (aná, “up”) + κρούω (kroúō, “I strike”).