on-versen.
/ˈɒnvəːs/, U.S. /ˈɔnˌvərs/, /ˈɑnˌvərs/ Germanic Prosody.
The first half-line of a line of alliterative verse. Opposed to off-verse n.
ΚΠ
1935 K. Malone in ELH 2 291 The chief function of alliteration in OE poetry is that of binding together the two halves (i.e. the on- and off-verses) of the so-called long line.
1953 Speculum 28 458 The first down-beat or ictus in the off-verse does not here alliterate with the preceding on-verse.
1992 A. Crépin in C. Blank Lang. & Civilization I. 108 The first term often occurs in an off-verse.., whereas the second term occurs in the following on-verse which it fills up entirely.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1935- de-appetizing
- de-arrest
- de-arsenicize
- de-arsenicizing
- de-articulate
- de-articulated
- de-articulation
- de-aspirate
- de-aspirating
- de-aspiration
- de-aspirator
- de-awarren
- de-bamboozle
- de-beak
- de-christianization
- de-christianize
- de-christianized
- de-christianizing
- de-conflict
- de-conflicted
- de-conflicting
- de-conflicts
- de-development
- de-educate
- de-electrify