Alcahest

See ALKAHEST. Alca/ic, n. [Lat. alcaïcus.] ( Anc. Pros.) A kind of verse consisting of five feet, a spondee or iambic, an iambic, a long syllable, and two dactyls. It is one of the most beautiful and melodious of all the lyric metres. Horace has employed it in many of his odes. German poets, too, have imitated it, as Klopstock. It was invented by Alcseus. And take the Alcaic bute, Or thine own Horace, or A nacre on's lyre."-B. Jonson. Alcaid', n. [Sp. alcaide ; Port. alcayde .] The same as ALCALDE, q . v .