ictus

[ ik-tuhs ]

/ ˈɪk təs /

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noun, plural ic·tus·es, ic·tus.

Prosody. rhythmical or metrical stress.

Pathology.

an epileptic seizure.
a stroke, especially a cerebrovascular accident.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of ictus

1700–10; <Latin: stroke, thrust, equivalent to īc(ere) to strike with a weapon + -tus suffix of v. action

OTHER WORDS FROM ictus

ictic, adjective

Words nearby ictus

ICSI, ICT, icteric, icterus, Ictinus, ictus, ICU, icy, ICYMI, icy pole, id

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ictus in a sentence

The points which seem to mark the ictus, or rhythmical accent, are found on the first syllable of each of these two feet.
The Modes of Ancient Greek Music|David Binning Monro
The metrical accent or ictus was marked in ancient notation by points placed over the accented syllable.
The Modes of Ancient Greek Music|David Binning Monro
Havena I missed the chance to turn out as clarissimus an ictus, as auld Grunwiggin himself?
The Heart of Mid-Lothian, Volume 2, Illustrated|Sir Walter Scott
O, you mean juris-consultus—Ictus is an abbreviation for juris-consultus.
The Heart of Mid-Lothian, Volume 2, Illustrated|Sir Walter Scott

Latterly, the underlying metrical ictus is at times hard to detect.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 6|Various

British Dictionary definitions for ictus

ictus

/ (ˈɪktəs) /

noun plural -tuses or -tus

prosody metrical or rhythmic stress in verse feet, as contrasted with the stress accent on words

med a sudden attack or stroke

Derived forms of ictus

ictal, adjective

Word Origin for ictus

C18: from Latin icere to strike

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012