Spondylidæl (spondilide)

pl. [NL. (J. Gray, 1826), spondee (spon'dē), n. [Formerly also spondæ (also, as L., spondeus = D. G. Dan. spondeus ); Sw. spondé , spondée = Sp. Pg. espondeo = It. spondeo , spondeus , spondæus , σπονδεῖος , a spondee, so called as used (prob a- bly as double spondee) in hymns accompany- ing libations, prop. adj. (sc. πούς , & foot), of or pertaining to a libation, σπονδή , a drink- offering, libation to the gods, pl. σπονδαί , α solemn treaty, a truce, σπένδειν , pour out, make a libation; root uncertain. Cf. L. spondyl is +-idæ.] In entom ., a family of phytoph- dere, answer: see sponsor.] In anc. pros., a foot consisting of two long times or syllables, one of which constitutes the thesis and the other the arsis: it is accordingly tetrasemic and is or rhythmic. The spondee is principally used as a substitute for a dactyl or an anapest. In the former case it is a dactylic spondee (--for ((), in the latter spondee an represents anapestic spondente a trisemic foot, for trochee, troche or iambus national ( for, or - for(). It is found in the even places of trochaic lines and in the odd places of iambic lines, also in log aædic verses, especially as representing the initial trochee ("basis"). A foot consisting of two spondees is called a dispondee. - Double spondee, greater spondee, in anc. pros., a foot consisting of two tetrasemic longs(), and accordingly double the magnitude of an ordinary (single) spondee (2).