Standard Lemma guide

Pherecratean

adj · noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˌfɛɹɪkɹəˈtiːən/

1

adj

Meaning 1

Consisting of three prosodic feet, normally a spondee, dactyl, and spondee (or trochee), but admitting of some variations.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Ancient-Greek, Latin, not-comparable

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, phonology, prosody, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: Pherecratian, Pherecratic

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A Pherecratean metre.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Ancient-Greek, Latin

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, phonology, prosody, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: Pherecratian, Pherecratic

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A Pherecratean verse.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Ancient-Greek, Latin

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, phonology, prosody, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: Pherecratian, Pherecratic

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Latin Pherecratēus, by-form of Pherecratīus, from Ancient Greek Φερεκρᾰ́τειος (Pherekrắteios), from Φερεκρᾰ́της (Pherekrắtēs, “Pherecrates”), the name of the metre’s inventor.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: phérécratien — consisting of three feet, spondee–dactyl–spondee or spondee–dactyl–trochee
  • German: pherekratisch — consisting of three feet, spondee–dactyl–spondee or spondee–dactyl–trochee
  • Ancient Greek: Φερεκρᾰ́τειος (Pherekrắteios) — consisting of three feet, spondee–dactyl–spondee or spondee–dactyl–trochee
  • Latin: Pherecratīus — consisting of three feet, spondee–dactyl–spondee or spondee–dactyl–trochee
  • Ancient Greek: Φερεκρᾰ́τειον (Pherekrắteion) — Pherecratean metre
  • Latin: Pherecratīum — Pherecratean metre
  • German: Pherekrateus — Pherecratean verse