ANACREONTIC, in the Greek and Latin Poetry, something invented by Anacreon; or in the Manner and Taste of Anacreon. Anacreon, a Poet of Teios, who lived upwards of 400 Years before Christ, was famous for the Delicacy of his Wit; and the exquisite, yet easy and natural, turn of his Poetry.—We have several of his Odes still extant; and few of the modern Poets, but have Anacreontics in Imitation hereof. They are most of them composed in Verses of seven Syllables; or rather, of three Feet and a half, Spondees and Iambus's, though sometimes Anapests,—Hence, Verses in that Measure are usually called Anacreontics, or Anacreontic Verses. See VERSE.
