An″a‐pest (�), n. [L. anapaestus, Gr. � an anapest, i.e., a dactyl reserved, or, as it were, struck back; fr. �; � back + � to strike.] 1. (Pros.) 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 dĕ-ĭ-tās, and in English in-ter-vene″, are examples of anapests.
2. A verse composed of such feet.