metrical or rhythmic stress in verse feet, as contrasted with the stress accent on words
2. medicine
a sudden attack or stroke
Derived forms
ictal (ˈictal)
adjective
Word origin
C18: from Latin icere to strike
ictus in American English
(ˈɪktəs)
nounWord forms: pluralˈictuses or ˈictus
1.
rhythmic or metrical stress, or accent
2. Medicine
a convulsion, stroke, or sudden attack
Word origin
L, a blow, stroke, metrical stress < pp. of icere, to strike, hit, beat < IE base *aik-, *ik-, spear, to strike with a sharp weapon > Gr aichmē, a spear