Pros. [L. translit. of Gr. ἀνάκρουσις, f. ἀνακρού-ειν, f. ἀνά up + κρού-ειν to strike.] ‘A syllable at the beginning of a verse before the just rhythm’ (Kennedy).
1833. Edin. Rev., LVI. 372. The Iambus … in technical language is said to consist of anacrusis and arsis.
1844. Beck & Felton, Munk’s Metres, 8. A thesis with which a rhythm begins is called anacrusis, or ‘an upward beat.’
