| Arsis | ‖n. [ L. arsis, Gr. 'a`rsis a raising or lifting, an elevation of the voice, fr. a'i`rein to raise or lift up. Its ordinary use is the result of am early misapprehension; originally and properly it denotes the lifting of the hand in beating time, and hence the unaccented part of the rhythm. ] 1. (Pros.) (a) That part of a foot where the ictus is put, or which is distinguished from the rest (known as the thesis) of the foot by a greater stress of voice. Hermann. (b) That elevation of voice now called metrical accentuation, or the rhythmic accent. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ It is uncertain whether the arsis originally consisted in a higher musical tone, greater volume, or longer duration of sound, or in all combined. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. (Mus.) 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 thesis. Moore. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Catharsis | ‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_;. See Cathartic. ] (Med.) 1. A natural or artificial purgation of any passage, as of the mouth, bowels, etc. 2. (Psychotherapy) The process of relieving an abnormal excitement by reëstablishing the association of the emotion with the memory or idea of the event that first caused it, and of eliminating it by complete expression (called the abreaction). [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ] |
