Poetry Dictionary

Alcaic

A Greek lyrical meter, said to be invented by Alcaeus, a lyric poet from about 600 B.C. Written in tetrameter, the greater Alcaic consists of a spondee or iamb followed by an iamb plus a long syllable and two dactyls. The lesser Alcaic, also in tetrameter, consists of two dactylic feet followed by two iambic feet.

Note: Though seldom appearing in English poetry, Alcaic verse was used by Alfred Lord Tennyson in his ode to Milton.

References

• Poetry Dictionary
• Words beginning with the letter A
• Types of Poetry