noun
dactyl
DAK-til/ˈdæktɪl/
A metrical foot of one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables.
The word “happily” forms a dactyl when spoken naturally.
Etymology
The finger's three joints supplied the image for a long syllable followed by two short ones. English verse adapted that pattern to one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed ones.
In context
Each line can be broken into two types of feet. either the dactyl which is represented by a long syllable and then two short syllables
More examples
- Each dactyl begins with one stressed syllable.
- The poet opens the line with a dactyl.
- We mark the dactyls before reading the poem aloud.
Forms
dactyl · dactyls
dactylic adjective — Using a stressed-unstressed-unstressed rhythmic pattern.
Similar words
- dactylic foot
- Names the same rhythmic unit, explicitly identifying it as a foot.