Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Of or in the manner of the poems of Anacreon, especially being convivial or amatory in subject.
  • noun A poem written in the style of Anacreon.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Pertaining to or after the manner of Anacreon, a Greek poet of the sixth century b. c., whose odes and epigrams were celebrated for their case and grace. They were devoted to the praise of love and wine.
  • Hence Pertaining to the praise of love and wine; convivial; amatory.
  • noun [lowercase] [=F. anacréontique.] A poem by Anacreon, or composed in the manner of Anacreon; a little poem in praise of love and wine. Formerly sometimes written anacreontique.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Pertaining to, after the manner of, or in the meter of, the Greek poet Anacreon; amatory and convivial.
  • noun A poem after the manner of Anacreon; a sprightly little poem in praise of love and wine.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Alternative form of anacreontic.
  • noun Alternative form of anacreontic.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Fontaine has prettily set it off, and an anonymous writer has composed it in Latin Anacreontic verses; and at length our Prior has given it with equal gaiety and freedom.

    Curiosities of Literature, Vol. 1 (of 3) Isaac Disraeli 1807

  • I had composed a good number of so - called Anacreontic poems, which, on account of the convenience of the metre, and the lightness of the subject, flowed forth readily enough.

    Autobiography: Truth and Fiction Relating to My Life Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1790

  • He seems to have enjoyed to the full the gay and easy life of a courtier, and sung so voluptuously of love and wine and festivity that the term "Anacreontic" has come to be used to characterize all poetry over - redolent of these themes.

    General History for Colleges and High Schools Philip Van Ness Myers

  • "The Anacreontic Song" became popular in the U.S., and after Francis Scott Key composed his 1814 poem, "Defence of Fort McHenry," his brother-in-law saw that the poem would go nicely with the "Anacreontic" melody.

    The Agonist - thoughtful, global, timely 2010

  • There is something of the metaphysical about this, and I can't get Abraham Cowley's second Anacreontic, "Drinking", out of my head when I read it.

    Rain by Don Paterson 2010

  • Printed sources of "The Anacreontic Song," the drinking song that supplied the tune, are in triple meter, as are other, pre - "Banner" songs that use the tune (such as "Adams and Liberty").

    Full measures of devotion Matthew Guerrieri 2007

  • Printed sources of "The Anacreontic Song," the drinking song that supplied the tune, are in triple meter, as are other, pre - "Banner" songs that use the tune (such as "Adams and Liberty").

    Archive 2007-09-01 Matthew Guerrieri 2007

  • ‘Written, I presume you mean, in the Anacreontic measure of three feet and a half — spondees and iambics?’ said a gentleman in spectacles, glancing round, and giving emphasis to his inquiry by causing bland glares of a circular shape to proceed from his glasses towards the person interrogated.

    The Hand of Ethelberta 2006

  • ‘Witty things, and occasionally Anacreontic: and they have the originality which such a style must naturally possess when carried out by a feminine hand,’ said Ladywell.

    The Hand of Ethelberta 2006

  • Constantinople had given him a taste for Anacreontic singing, and female society of the questionable kind, a love of strong waters, — the hypocrite looked positively scandalised when I first suggested the subject, — and an off-hand latitudinarian mode of dealing with serious subjects in general.

    Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah and Meccah 2003

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