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Webster 1913 Edition


Iambus

I-am′bus

,
Noun.
;
pl. L.
Iambi
(#)
, E.
Iambuses
(#)
.
[L.
iambus
, Gr. [GREEK]; prob. akin to [GREEK] to throw, assail (the iambus being first used in satiric poetry), and to L.
jacere
to throw. Cf.
Jet
a shooting forth.]
(Pros.)
A foot consisting of a short syllable followed by a long one, as in
ămāns
, or of an unaccented syllable followed by an accented one, as invent; an iambic. See the Couplet under
Iambic
,
Noun.

Webster 1828 Edition


Iambus

IAM'BUS

,
Noun.
[L. iambus.] In poetry, a foot consisting of two syllables,the first short and the last long, as in delight. The following line, consists wholly of iambic feet.
He scorns the force that dares his fury stay.