/ ˈænəpiːst; NAmE ; -pest/ ( BrE ) ( NAmE ana·pest /ˈænəpest/) noun
( technical ) a unit of sound in poetry consisting of two weak or short syllables followed by one strong or long syllable
► ana·paes·tic , ana·pes·tic / ˌænəˈpiːstɪk; -ˈpestɪk; NAmE ˌænəˈpestɪk/ adjective
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek anapaistos reversed, from ana- back + paiein strike (because it is the reverse of a dactyl, a type of metrical foot with one stressed or long syllable, followed by two unstressed or short syllables).