A metrical foot consisting of three syllables, the first two short, or unaccented, the last long, or accented (~ ~ -); the reverse of the dactyl. In Latin de-i-tas, and in English in-ter-vene', are examples of anapests.
A metrical foot of three syllables, two short (or unstressed) followed by one long (or stressed), as in seventeen and to the moon. The anapest is the reverse of the dactyl.