catalectic

From Latin catalecticus, from Ancient Greek καταληκτικός (katalēktikós, “leaving off, incomplete”) from κατάληξις (katálēxis).

• Rhymes: -ɛktɪk

catalectic

1. (prosody) (said of a line with incomplete meter) lacking a syllable at the end or ending with an incomplete foot.
2. incomplete; partial; not affecting the whole of a substance
   • 1878, William de Wiveleslie Abney, A treatise on photography:

     The process is not practised to any extent , but is a curious example of a catalectic action started by the impact of light

catalectic (plural catalectics)

1. (poetry) A line with incomplete meter, lacking a syllable at the end or ending with an incomplete foot.

• catalexis
• acatalectic
• brachycatalectic
• hypercatalectic
• hypercatalexis

Borrowed from French catalectique.

catalectic m or n (feminine singular catalectică, masculine plural catalectici, feminine and neuter plural catalectice)

1. catalectic