a metrical foot consisting of two long syllables (– –)
Word origin
C14: from Old French spondée, from Latin spondēus, from Greek spondeios, from spondē a ritual libation; from the use of spondee in the music that characteristically accompaniedsuch ceremonies
spondee in American English
(ˈspɑndi)
noun
a metrical foot of two long or accented syllables
Derived forms
spondaic (sponˈdaic) (spɑnˈdeɪɪk)
adjective
Word origin
ME sponde < L spondeum < spondeus, of a libation < Gr spondeios < spondē, solemn libation (such libations were accompanied by a solemn melody) < spendein, to present a libation: see sponsor