Definition

A part of a line of poetry that is cut in half, often by a pause or break in the rhythm.

Example

The poet used a hemistich to create a dramatic pause in the verse.

Conversation

I was reading some poetry yesterday and came across the term hemistich.

Oh really? What does it mean?

It refers to a half line of verse, usually separated by a pause.

That’s interesting! I didn’t know poetry had such specific terms.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Hemistich → It is formed from "hemi-" (from Greek "hēmi-", meaning half) and "stichos" (from Greek, meaning line or verse). The word "hemistich" refers to a half-line of verse, particularly in poetry.

Memory Tip

Think of 'half' ('hemi-') of a 'line' ('stichos') in poetry — that's what a hemistich is.

Visually Confused Words