Cretic

//ˈkɹiː.tɪk// adj, noun

adj, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A verse of this kind.

    "The foote of a verſe, is a meaſure of two ſillables, or of three, diſtinguiſhed by time which is eyther long or ſhort. […] A ſoote^([sic]) of 3. ſillables in like ſorte is either ſimple or myxt. […] The mixt is of 6. diuers ſortes, […] 5. Creticus of a long, a ſhort, and a long, ﹘⏑﹘ daungerous."

Adjective
  1. 1
    Using or relating to a metrical pattern of poetry where each foot is composed of three syllables, the first and third of which are stressed and the second is unstressed. This pattern is very rare in English poetry. not-comparable

Example

More examples

"The foote of a verſe, is a meaſure of two ſillables, or of three, diſtinguiſhed by time which is eyther long or ſhort. […] A ſoote^([sic]) of 3. ſillables in like ſorte is either ſimple or myxt. […] The mixt is of 6. diuers ſortes, […] 5. Creticus of a long, a ſhort, and a long, ﹘⏑﹘ daungerous."

Etymology

From Latin creticus, "of Crete, Cretan", from Latin Creta, "Crete".

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.