1. (verse) metrically incomplete; especially lacking one or more syllables in the final metrical foot
   "The catalectic verse created a sense of abruptness"

1. (prosody) a line of verse that lacks a syllable in the last metrical foot
   "The final line of the poem was catalectic, creating a sense of incompleteness"

Derived forms: catalectics

Type of: line of poetry, line of verse

Antonym: acatalectic, hypercatalectic

Encyclopedia: Catalectic