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Origin and history of metrical

metrical(adj.)

early 15c., "pertaining to versification, characterized by poetic measure or rhythm," from Latin metricus "metrical," from Greek metrikos "of or for meter, metrical," from metron "poetic meter" (from PIE root *me- (2) "to measure"). Old English had meterlic in this sense. Meaning "pertaining to measure or the use of weights and measures" is from 1640s. Related: Metrically.

also from early 15c.

Entries linking to metrical

*me-(2)

*mē-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to measure." Some words may belong instead to root *med- "to take appropriate measures."

It might form all or part of: amenorrhea; centimeter; commensurate; diameter; dimension; gematria; geometry; immense; isometric; meal (n.1) "food, time for eating;" measure; menarche; meniscus; menopause; menses; menstrual; menstruate; mensural; meter (n.1) "poetic measure;" meter (n.2) unit of length; meter (n.3) "device for measuring;" -meter; Metis; metric; metrical; metronome; -metry; Monday; month; moon; parameter; pentameter; perimeter; piecemeal; semester; symmetry; thermometer; trigonometry; trimester.

It might also be the source of: Sanskrit mati "measures," matra "measure;" Avestan, Old Persian ma- "to measure;" Greek metron "measure," metra "lot, portion;" Latin metri "to measure."

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    Trends of metrical

    adapted from books.google.com/ngrams/ with a 7-year moving average; ngrams are probably unreliable.

    More to explore

    metric
    "pertaining to the system of weights and measures based on the meter," 1855, from French métrique, from mèter (see meter (n.2)). In this sense, metrical is attested from 1797. Metric system is attested by 1855...."science of versification," 1760, from Latinized form of Greek he m
    caesura
    "a pause about the middle of a metrical line" (often coinciding with a pause in sense), 1550s, from Latin caesura, "metrical...In classical use, "the division of a metrical foot between two words, a break within a foot caused by the end of a word,"...
    rhythm
    attempted classical correction of Middle English rime "measure, meter, rhythm," also "agreement in end-sounds of words or metrical...On the other hand, in classical Greek metrical poetry, rhymes, if not accidental, were never an essential element of metrical...From 1550s as "metrical movement, movement in time characterized by equality of measures and alteration of stress and relaxation...
    dactyl
    metrical foot, late 14c., from Latin dactylus, from Greek daktylos, a unit of measure (a finger-breadth), also "a fruit of...The metrical use (a long syllable followed by two short ones) is by analogy with the three joints of a finger....
    meter
    also metre, "poetic measure, metrical scheme, arrangement of language in a series of rhythmic movements," Old English meter...(after a 300-year gap in recorded use), from Old French metre, with a specific sense of "metrical scheme in verse," from...
    chorale
    1828, "sacred choral song; musical composition in harmony, suited for performance by a choir," from German Choral "metrical...
    federal
    1640s, as a theological term (in reference to "covenants" between God and man), from French fédéral, an adjective formed from Latin foedus (genitive foederis) "covenant, league, treaty, alliance" (from PIE *bhoid-es-, suffixed form of root *bheidh- "to trust, confide, persuade").
    guinea
    former British coin, 1660s, from Guinea, because the coins were first minted for British trade with Guinea (but soon in domestic use) and with gold from Africa. The original guinea was in use from 1663 to 1813....region along the west coast of Africa, presumably from an African w
    auditorium
    "part of a public building where people gather to hear speeches, etc.," 1727, from Latin auditorium "a lecture-room," literally "place where something is heard," in Medieval Latin especially "a reception room in a monastery," noun use of neuter of auditorius (adj.) "of or for hea

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