saturnian verse

1 definition found

saturnian verse - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Saturnian \Sa*tur"ni*an\, a. [L. Saturnius.]
     1. (Roman Myth.) Of or pertaining to Saturn, whose age or
        reign, from the mildness and wisdom of his government, is
        called the golden age.
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     2. Hence: Resembling the golden age; distinguished for
        peacefulness, happiness, contentment.
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              Augustus, born to bring Saturnian times. --Pope.
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     3. (Astron.) Of or pertaining to the planet Saturn; as, the
        Saturnian year.
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     Saturnian verse (Pros.), a meter employed by early Roman
        satirists, consisting of three iambics and an extra
        syllable followed by three trochees, as in the line: --
        Th[e^] qu[=e]en | w[a^]s [imac]n | th[e^] k[imac]tch |
        [e^]n [=e]at[i^]ng | br[=e]ad [a^]nd | h[=o]n[e^]y.
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