n.
Pronunciation: ˌ a-n ə - ' krü-s ə s
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -cru · ses \ - ˌ s ē z \
Etymology: New Latin, from Greek anakrousis beginning of a song, from anakrouein to begin a song, from ana- + krouein to strike, beat; akin to Lithuanian krau š yti to strike
Date: 1830
1 : one or more syllables at the beginning of a line of poetry that are regarded as preliminary to and not a part of the metrical pattern
2 : UPBEAT specifically : one or more notes or tones preceding the first downbeat of a musical phrase