— anacrustic /an'euh krus"tik/ , adj. — anacrustically , adv.
/an'euh krooh"sis/ , n. , pl. anacruses /-krooh"seez/ .
1. Pros. an unstressed syllable or syllable group that begins a line of verse but is not counted as part of the first foot.
2. Music. the note or notes preceding a downbeat; upbeat.
[ 1825-35; anákrousis, equiv. to anakroú(ein ) to strike up, push back ( ana- ANA- + kroúein to strike, push) + -sis -SIS ]