hemistich

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From French hémistiche, from Latin hēmistichium, from Ancient Greek ἡμιστίχιον (hēmistíkhion), from ἡμι- (hēmi-, half) +‎ στίχος (stíkhos, verse).

Noun[edit]

hemistich (plural hemistichs or hemistiches)

  1. An approximate half-line of verse, separated from another by a caesura, often for dramatic effect.
  2. An unfinished line of verse.

Translations[edit]