n. [ Cf. F. iambe. See Lambus. ] An iambus or iambic. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Pros.) (a) An iambic foot; an iambus. (b) A verse composed of iambic feet. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The following couplet consists of iambic verses. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thy gen- | ius calls | thee not | to pur- | chase fame
In keen | iam- | bics, but | mild an- | agram. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A satirical poem (such poems having been anciently written in iambic verse); a satire; a lampoon. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. iambicus, Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. iambique. ] 1. (Pros.) Consisting of a short syllable followed by a long one, or of an unaccented syllable followed by an accented; as, an iambic foot. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Pertaining to, or composed of, iambics; as, an iambic verse; iambic meter. See Lambus. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Iambic. [ Obs. or R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a iambic manner; after the manner of iambics. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Gr. &unr_;. ] To satirize in iambics; to lampoon. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. L. Iambi E. Iambuses [ L. iambus, Gr. &unr_;; prob. akin to &unr_; to throw, assail (the iambus being first used in satiric poetry), and to L. jacere to throw. Cf. Jet a shooting forth. ] (Pros.) A foot consisting of a short syllable followed by a long one, as in or of an unaccented syllable followed by an accented one, as invent; an iambic. See the Couplet under Iambic, n. [ 1913 Webster ]