arsis

noun /ˈɑː(ɹ)sɪs/

1. The stronger part of a musical measure: the part containing the beat.

   countable, uncountable

2. The stronger part of a metrical foot: the part containing the long (heavy) syllable in quantitative meter, or the stressed syllable in a qualitative meter.

   countable, uncountable

   it comes to pass that the arsis may effect some change in the order of which it is itself the commencement

3. The elevation of the hand, or that part of the bar at which it is raised, in beating time; the weak or unaccented part of the bar, opposed to the thesis.

   countable, uncountable

4. The elevation of the voice to a higher pitch in speaking.

   countable, uncountable

Where it comes from

From Ancient Greek ἄρσις (ársis, “lifting”), from αἴρω (aírō, “to lift”).

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry arsis (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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